THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

GIFT  OF 
COMMODORE  BYRON  MCCANDLESS 


v.  •     % 


THE 


SQUARE-RIGGED    CRUISER; 


OB, 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS. 


DEDICATED  TO  THE 


UNITED  STATES  NAVY,  OFFICERS  AND  SEAMEN  OF  AMEE- 

ICAN  MERCHANTMEN,  AND  ALL  TRUE-BLUES  OF 

EVERY  NATION  UNDER  HEAVEN; 


COURSING  ON  THE  HIGH  SEAS,  LAKES  AND  RIVERS  OF 
THIS  PLANET,  OR  LAID  UP  IN  ORD'NARY. 


OF  THE   OHIO   CONFERENCE. 


ALFRED  M. LORRAIN, 

HIO   CONFERENCI 


_ 

(Htnrinnati: 

PRINTED  AT  THE  METHODIST  BOOK  CONCERN, 
FOR  THE  AUTHOR. 

R  .     P.    THOMPSON,     PRINTER. 

1853. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1851, 

BY  ALFRED  M.  LORRAIN, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  District  of  Ohio. 


PREFACE. 


IT  gives  me  sincere  pleasure  to  make  a  few  prefa 
tory  remarks  to  this  publication,  at  the  request  of 
the  author.  Our  acquaintance  commenced  in  early 
life,  and  soon  ripened  into  a  strong  friendship  which 
has  increased  with  the  lapse  of  years,  and  now, 
being,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  "time-honored,"  1^ 
doubt  not  will  always  last. 

The  author  of  this  volume  of  sermons  served  an 
apprenticeship  on.  the  seas,  and  afterward  sailed  as 
an  officer  for  some  time,  and  may  well  be  supposed 
to  have  a  pretty  thorough  acquaintance  with  the 
usages  of  mariners.  Still,  it  must  appertain  to  the 
maritime  community  to  pronounce  on  the  merit  of 
the  sermons,  as  it  respects  their  nautical  peculiarity. 

No  doubt  many  thousands  will  read  these  sermons 
who  never  had  any  connection  with  the  seas;  such 
may  be  assured  they  will  find  much  to  interest,  to 
edify,  and  to  comfort  them.  The  race  of  man  every 
where  takes  an  especial  interest  in  every  thing  be 
longing  to  the  watery  world;  and  it  has  been  owing 
partly  to  this,  perhaps,  that  these  discourses  have 
been  delivered  by  the  author  in  his  itinerant  labors, 
in  various  parts  of  our  country,  with  so  much  eclat 
and  success.  Those  of  our  population,  who  have 
some  knowledge  of  the  affairs  of  "old  ocean,"  and 

3 


•  '• :  ~  •  •        •  »  •  . 

4  PREFACE. 

they  are  not  a  few,  have  heard  them  in  good  faith, 
and  having  been  much  profited,  they  will  rejoice  in 
their  appearance  in  book  form.  Others  have  pro 
fessed  to  be  edified,  although  they  admitted  they 
could  not  understand  many  of  the  phrases  used;  yet 
the  novelty  of  the  language  seemed  so  to  attract  and 
fix  their  attention,  as  to  prepare  them  to  receive  more 
readily  the  moral  teachings  found  in  the  sermons, 
which  are  adapted  to  all  classes,  and  of  easy  appre 
hension.  Some  of  this  class,  however,  may  meet 
with  technicalities,  which  might  appear  to  them  awk 
ward,  or  improperly  applied.  Others  may  object  to 
the  structure  and  divisions  of  the  sermons,  as  not 
being  scientifically  correct.  The  author,  in  his  pri 
vate  correspondence  with  me,  insists  "that  it  is 
necessary  that  such  readers  should  bear  it  in  mind, 
that  the  work  is  intended  particularly  for  sailors, 
whose  circumstances  differ  widely  from  those  on 
land.  The  military  exercise  itself  is  not  the  same 
on  shipboard  that  it  is  in  the  tented  field;  even  bread, 
the  staff  of  life,  is  there  reduced  to  a  flinty  temper 
ament;  and  if  the  luxury  of  milk  is  enjoyed  at  all, 
it  must  of  necessity  be  of  goats,  and  not  of  kine." 
The  author  claims  "that  it  is  not  best  to  encumber 
with  nice  divisions  and  subdivisions  a  book,  the  taking 
up  and  laying  down  of  which  must  be  frequently 
determined  by  wind  and  weather — the  fluctuations 
and  shiftings  of  the  dogvane." 

The  reader  will  perceive  that  there  are  ten  ser 
mons,  each  having  an  appropriate  hymn  at  the  be 
ginning,  and  another  at  the  close.  The  volume  is 


.^^•»Br?~    .       -i       -* 

PREFACE.  5 

designed,  not  only  as  a  companion  for  the  individual, 
but  as  a  book  of  devotion:  in  some  sort,  to  supply 
the  place  of  a  chaplain  in  the  navy,  and  on  board 
of  merchant  vessels;  for  by  the  help  of  it,  the  pray 
ing  man  may  perform  divine  service  every  Sabbath, 
while  navigating  the  high  seas,  or  lakes. 

It  might  be  acceptable  to  the  reader  to  have  some 
brief  remarks  on  the  subject  and  design  of  each  ser 
mon  separately. 

1.  WONDERS  IN  THE  DEEP. — This  asserts  the  im 
partial  regard  of  the  Almighty,  in  respect  to  man, 
whether  on  the  land  or  on  the  sea,  as  displayed  in 
his  glorious  works  of  creation,  providence,  and  grace; 
so  that  the  sailor  may  not  in  one  mood,  say  with 
desponding  Jonah,  "lam  cast  out  of  thy  sight;"  or, 
in  another,  presumptuously  maintain,  "because  I  am 
a  poor  sailor,  subject  to  so  many  deprivations  and 
disasters,  without  the  means  and  appliances  of  the 
Gospel,  God  will  mercifully  save  me,  irrespective  of 
moral  qualifications." 

2.  THE  ANCHOR. — This  exhibits  the  analogy  of  a 
literal  voyage,  and  the  more  important  voyage  of 
human  life.     The  anchor  has  ever  been  a  favorite 
figure  of  the  Christian,  of  that  hope  which  maketh 
not  ashamed,  and  is  thus  defined  in  the  discourse. 

3.  ALL  HANDS,  AHOY! — This  sermon  is  devoted  to 
the  extent  of  human  salvation:   showing  that  the 
vilest  sinner  may,  by  repentance  toward  God,  and 
faith  in  Christ,  attain  that  rest  which  is  realized  by 
the  children  of  God.     It  was  while  the  author  was 
delivering  the  substance  of  this  discourse  at  Colum- 


*;  .  j 

6  PREFACE. 

bus,  Ohio,  many  years  ago,  comparing  the  case  of  a 
sinner  to  a  ship  about  to  be  wrecked,  a  sailor  sud 
denly  sprung  out  into  the  aisle — rushed  forward  in 
much  confusion,  then  quickly  returned  to  his  seat, 
under  manifest  embarrassment.  He  was  asked, 
shortly  after,  the  cause  of  his  excitement.  "Why, 
sir,"  said  he,  "the  minister  had  me  out  to  sea  again, 
before  I  knew  it,  and  raised  a  thundering  storm. 
Here  she  was,  bearing  down  on  a  lee-shore,  and  ready 
to  strike  on  the  rocks.  Every  fellow  on  board  stood 
gazing,  with  his  flippers  in  his  pockets.  What  could 
I  do,  but  rush  forward  to  let  go  the  foresheet?  But 
never  a  foresheet  could  I  find;  for  I  was  still  in  the 
church." 

4.  A  VOYAGE  TO  DAVT  JONES'S  LOCKER,  ETC. — This 
represents  Jonah  as  a  striking  type  of  the  voluntary 
sacrifice,  and  triumphant  resurrection  of  our  blessed 
Savior.  It  is  also  a  pointed  rebuke  of  those  unrea 
sonable  superstitions  which  some  seamen  have  found 
ed  upon  the  narrative,  and  which  have  sometimes 
influenced  them  into  a  course  of  conduct  toward 
ministers,  very  foreign  to  that  character  of  universal 
benevolence  by  which  the  profession  is  generally 
distinguished. 

6.  THE  LEVANTER. — This  distinguishes  between 
wholesome  and  useless  fears;  and  is  also  a  running 
narrative  of  the  disastrous  voyage  of  St.  Paul,  in 
which  many  important,  practical  truths  are  illus 
trated  and  enforced. 

6.  SEA-FiGHT.-«-This  is  descriptive  of  the  sinner's 
conflict — the  flesh  warring  against  the  spirit,  and  the 


T  ;»rV' 

PREFACE.  7 

spirit  against  the  flesh.  It  is  partly  allegorical;  but 
will  be  properly  esteemed  by  all  who  serve  on  ships 
of  war. 

7.  RELIEF  AT  THE  HELM. — This  treats  particularly 
of  the  sins  of  the  tongue,  and  the  only  remedy.     It 
is  not  only  appropriate  for  a  book  of  sea-sermons, 
but  worthy  of  the  attention  of  all  persons. 

8.  STORM  OF  GALILEE. — Pointing  out  the  most  re 
markable  features,  in  which  our  Lord  differs  from 
our  common  human  nature.     Some  very  useful  doc 
trines  are  examined  in  connection  with  this  subject. 

9.  SOULWRECK. — Warning  the   Christian  of  dan 
gers  by  the  way. 

10.  SHORT  TRIP. — A  view  of  the  shortness  of  life, 
the  rapid  flight  of  time,  and  the  certainty  of  death, 
as  it  appeared  to  Job,  under  the  figure  of  a  swift- 
sailing  ship. 

Those  who  have  closely  observed  how  a  sermon 
differs  with  itself  when  orally  delivered,  and  when 
presented  to  the  eye  in  the  impressions  of  cold  type, 
will  not  expect  these  discourses  to  be  clothed  with 
the  same  unction  as  when  they  were  delivered  by  the 
energetic  author  to  crowded  congregations,  with  all 
his  sailor  fervor  and  habitudes.  We,  however,  have 
good  grounds  to  hope  that  they  will  continue  to  exert 
much  moral  power,  and  be  eminently  useful  in  this 
form,  long  after  the  voice  of  the  now  living  minister 
is  hushed  in  the  silence  of  the  grave. 

We  hope,  also,  that  this  book  will  spread,  not  only 
on  the  seas,  but  through  all  lands,  especially  in  our 
own  country,  and  that  its  circulation  will  excite  in 


8  PREFACE. 

all  Churches  a  just  concern  for  the  vast  population 
of  sailors  who  now  not  only  traverse  the  seas,  but 
have  penetrated  the  remotest  lakes  and  rivers  of  our 
mighty  continent.  0,  will  not  all  Christians  sympa 
thize  with  this  important  and  useful  class  of  their 
race,  and  by  the  distribution  of  this  book  and  other 
means,  labor  for  their  salvation  and  happiness? 

"The  Square-Rigged  Cruiser"  is  now  sent  forth, 
to  sail  over  the  world,  under  the  command  of  the 
great  Head  of  the  Church;  and  will  be  accompanied 
with  many  prayers  that  she  may  make  a  prosperous 
voyage,  touch  at  many  hearts,  and  convey  to  myr 
iads  of  precious  souls  the  inestimable  "treasures  of 
wisdom  and  knowledge — the  unsearchable  riches  of 
Christ." 

JOHN  F.  WRIGHT. 

Cincinnati,  March  31,  1851. 


CONTENTS. 


SERMON  I. 

WONDERS    IN    THE    DEEP. 

"  They  that  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,  that  do  business  in  the 
great  waters ;  these  see  the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  his  wonders  in 
the  deep,"  etc.,  Psalm  cvii,  23-30. Page  15 

SERMON  H. 

CREATION'S   SHEET-ANCHOR,    AND   MAN'S   BEST   BOWEE. 

"Which  hope  we  have  as  an  anchor  of  the  soul,"  etc.,  Hebrews 

vi,  19,  20. 37 

SERMON  HI. 

ALL    HANDS,    AHOY! 

"Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will 
give  you  rest,"  Matthew  xi,  28. 59 

SERMON  IV. 

A  VOYAGE  TO  DAVY  JONES'S  LOCKER  AND  BACK. 

"  So  the  shipmaster  came  to  him,  and  said  unto  him,  What  mean 
est  thou,  0,  sleeper?"  etc.,  Jonah  i,  6. 80 

SERMON  V. 

THE   LEVANTER. 

"Saying,  Fear  not,  Paul,  thou  must  be  brought  before  Csesar," 
etc.,  Actsxxvii,  24. 103 

SERMON  VI. 

SEA-FIGHT. 

"0,  that  thou  hadst  hearkened  to  my  commandments!  then  had 

thy  peace  been  as  a  river,"  Isaiah  xlviii,  18. 129 

9 


10  CONTENTS. 

SERMON  m 

BELIEF    AT    THE    HELM. 

"  Behold,  also,  the  ships,  which  though  they  be  so  great,"  etc., 
James  iii,  4,  5. Page  156 

SERMON  YE!. 

STORK    OF    GALILEE. 

"But  the  men  marveled,  saying,  "What  manner  of  man  is  this, 
that  even  the  winds  and  the  seas  obey  him?"  Matt,  viii,  27. •  •  •  •  182 

SERMON  IX. 

SOULWEECK. 

"Holding  faith,  and  a  good  conscience;  which  some  having  put 
away  concerning  faith  have  made  shipwreck,"  1  Tim.  i,  19.  —  203 

SERMON  X. 

SHOET     TEIP. 

"  They  are  passed  away  as  the  swift  ships,"  Job  ix,  26. 232 


INTRODUCTION. 


THERE  has  been,  of  late  years,  a  great  ref 
ormation  among  seamen.  Bethels  have  been 
established,  and  chaplains  have  been  appointed 
in  many  ports,  both  at  home  and  abroad ;  and 
many  cheering  revivals  have  taken  place.  We 
believe  that  all  this  has  been  by  the  direction 
of  a  wise  and  holy  God.  When  our  Savior 
began  to  preach  his  own  everlasting  Gospel, 
he  chose  his  principal  ministers  from  the  sea. 
True,  it  was  an  inland  sea — a  lake;  but,  still, 
it  was  one  of  the  principal  seas  of  the  Lord's 
chosen  nation.  And  in  bringing  in  the  latter- 
day  glory,  it  is  not  incredible  that  seamen 
should  be  called  to  bear  an  important  part. 
The  author  of  this  work  spent  the  morning  of 
his  life  at  sea,  both  afore  and  abaft  the  mast. 
His  heart  and  his  affections  still  twine  around 
his  shipmates.  The  most  vivid  and  lifelike 
dreams,  that  come  over  him  in  the  slumbers  of 
the  night,  are  dressed  in  marine  scenery.  Then 
he  is  on  board,  either  as  a  missionary,  or  a 
sailor;  but  always  under  a  sense  of  religious 

obligation.     At  such  times,  the  motion  of  the 

1! 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

ship,  the  peculiar  odor  of  the  rigging,  the  saline 
savor  of  the  Atlantic  atmosphere,  are  all  real 
ized  with  the  most  indisputable  certainty ;  but 
he  awakes,  and  finds  himself  securely  moored, 
by  domestic  associations,  in  the  far  west.  He 
reads  of  their  happy  meetings — of  their  bright 
conversions,  and  would  love  to  mingle  in  their 
sincere  and  artless  communion ;  but  his  lot  for 
bids.  While  he  rejoices  in  the  abundant  min 
isterial  provision  which  is  made  for  seamen, 
while  in  port,  he  knows  that  their  brief  stay  on 
land  is  a  kind  of  parenthesis  in  their  being — 
a  time  of  extraordinary  excitement — of  meeting 
and  greeting  of  connections  and  friends,  if  not 
a  time  of  indulgences  less  innocent.  Perhaps 
there  is  no  time  when  the  sailor  is  so  accessible 
to  the  Gospel,  as  when  he  is  at  home — on  the 
mountain-wave.  Then  he  is  removed  from 
many  powerful  temptations,  and  the  sober  re 
alities  of  life  fall  on  him.  Then  he  has  oppor 
tunity,  in  his  watches  below,  to  read,  and  to 
meditate  on  religious  truths.  We  can  hardly 
look  forward  to  any  time,  when  every  vessel 
can  be  supplied  with  a  living  minister.  These 
considerations  have  moved  the  author  to  put 
out  this  small  volume.  It  might  serve  as  a 
pocket-companion  for  the  sailor.  It  is,  however, 
so  designed  as  to  be  an  auxiliary  to  the  pious 
captain,  in  holding  religious  service  on  the 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

Sabbath.  He  thought,  at  first,  of  having  a 
prayer  at  the  beginning  and  ending  of  each 
sermon;  but  on  reflection,  it  seemed  to  him 
that  praying  to  God  is  coming  to  close  quarters, 
like  throwing  out  our  grappling-irons,  when  it 
is  best  for  all  hands  to  lean  on  their  own  re 
sources.  The  Lord  loves  the  warm  and  sincere 
prayer,  that  comes  from  a  contrite  heart, 

"Though  thought  be  broken,  language  lame." 

The  author  sends  forth  this  volume,  humbly 
imploring  the  God  of  the  land  and  the  sea,  to 
follow  it  with  his  blessing,  and  to  make  it  use 
ful  to  many, 

"  When  his  poor,  lisping,  stammering  tongue, 
Lies  silent  in  the  grave." 

ALFRED  M.  LoKBAEsr. 
Point  Harmar,  0.,  March  4,  1851. 


*' 


THE 

SQUARE-RIGGED   CRUISER; 

OK, 

LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS. 

SERMON  I. 
WONDERS  IN  THE  DEEP. 

THOSE  who  frequent  the  dangerous  main, 
In  quest  of  pleasure,  health,  or  gain, 
Should  deeply  on  their  minds  record, 
The  wondrous  blessings  of  the  Lord. 

He  oft  commands  the  furious  winds, 
To  scourge  them  for  repeated  sins; 
The  obedient  winds  his  will  perform, 
Unite,  and  swell  the  gathering  storm. 

The  shattered  vessel,  to  the  blast, 
Resigns  her  rigging,  sails,  and  mast, 
And  'fore  the  unbridled  gale  is  borne, 
With  squalls  and  billows  scathed  and  torn. 

Sometimes  she  caps  the  stormy  scene; 
Sometimes  she,  hopeless,  sinks  between 
Enormous  seas,  which  wildly  spread 
Their  foaming  horrors  o'er  her  head. 

And  now,  the  deeply-chastened  crew, 
Their  guilty  course  with  sorrow  view, 
And  fainting  at  the  threat'ning  roar, 
They  languish  for  the  distant  shore ; 

While  on  their  humbled,  staggering  knees, 
To  heaven  they  send  their  noisy  pleas ; 
And  loud,  from  every  rocking  wave, 
They  cry,  "O,  Lord,  in  mercy  save!" 

16 


16     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

The  Lord,  in  pity,  hears  them  plead, 
And  bids  the  frightful  gale  recede — 
Sends  milder  breezes  to  escort, 
And  waft  them  to  their  destined  port. 

O,  that  the  safely-landed  crew, 
To  God,  would  render  praises  due ; 
Still  fear  and  serve  him  on  the  shore, 
And  wander  from  their  Lord  no  more ! 


"  They  that  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,  that  do  business  in  the 
great  waters ;  these  see  the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  his  wonders  in 
the  deep,"  etc.,  PSALM  era,  23-30. 

SOME  seamen  seem  to  think,  that  because  they  are 
seamen,  and  are  exposed  to  extraordinary  dangers 
and  privations,  in  this  world,  they  will  not  be  judged 
like  other  men;  and  that  the  Lord  will  save  them, 
merely  because  they  are  poor  sailors.  Our  text 
conveys  a  different  idea.  It  shows  us  that  God  ex 
ercises  an  impartial  government  over  the  children 
6f  men.  Having  formed  the  sea,  as  well  as  the  dry 
land,  his  jurisdiction  is  extended  over  both.  His 
works  are  manifest  to  all,  and  all  are  left  without 
excuse.  "  They  that  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships  " — 
captains,  officers,  seamen,  passengers,  and  all  who 
go  to  sea,  whether  for  pleasure,  health,  or  gain ; 
these  see  the  works  of  the  Lord. 

I.  The  works  of  creation.  In  traversing  the  ocean, 
we  do  not  meet  with  ,as  great  a  variety  of  scenery, 
as  we  do  in  traveling  on  the  land.  There  are  no 
verdant  mountains  and  flowery  vales;  no  frightful 
precipices  and  gloomy  dells.  But  the  prospect,  at 
sea,  is  by  no  means  a  dull  uniformity.  It  is  consid 
erably  varied  and  diversified,  by  weather,  and  dif- 


- 
-..«•••  »    ». ' 

.    ft' 

LORKAIN'S  !SEA-SKKMONS.  17 

ferent  grades  of  wind ;  from  the  gentle  zephyr,  that 
slightly  ruffles  the  surface,  to  the  raging  tempest, 
that  dashes  the  foaming  billows  to  the  skies,  till  all 
seems  to  be  tumbled  into  lawless,  but  sublime  con 
fusion.  And  my  mind  has  never  been  more  over 
powered,  by  the  grandeur  of  creation,  than  when  I 
have  been  clinging,  a  giddy  sailor-boy,  at  the  mast 
head,  almost  identified  with  the  driving  tempest.  If, 
on  the  land,  we  are  pleased  with  the  animated  works 
of  God,  from  the  tall  elephant  that  roves  through 
the  forests  of  Africa,  to  the  smallest  insect  that 
creeps  beneath  our  feet,  we  are  no  less  delighted 
with  the  living  wonders  of  the  great  deep.  Hear 
the  account  which  our  Creator  himself  gives  of  the 
mighty  king  of  floods:  "The  arrow  cito  not  make 
him. flee.  Sling-stones  are  turned,  with  him,  into 
stubble.  He  laugheth  at  the  shaking  of  a  spear. 
He  maketh  the  deep  to  boil  like  a  pot  of  ointment. 
He  maketh  a  path  to  shine  after  him.  One  would 
think  the  deep  to  be  hoary.  Upon  the  earth  there 
is  not  his  like,  who  is  made  without  fear." 

Yes,  we  have  ample .  room  for  observation:  from 
the  monstrous  whale,  Avho  spouts  his  pride  to  the 
heavens,  down  to  the  restless  flying-fish,  that  is 
scarcely  satisfied  with  the  enjoyment  of  two  elements. 
Observe  the  little  nautilus.  Although  it  scarcely 
borders  on  animation,  yet,  furnished  with  sail  and 
rudder,  it  navigates  the  seas,  with  a  precision  which 
would  beggar  the  calculations  of  a  Hamilton  Moore. 
When  driven  by  storms  from  the  latitude  of  its  na 
tivity,  it  beats  its  passage  back  to  its  sacred  home. 

c> 


18     THE  SQUARE-RIGGSD  CRUISER;  OR, 

Where  is  the  ship,  that  can  lie  so  near  the  wind? 
Where  the  crew,  that  can  make  and  take  in  sail  with 
such  facility?  The  "wonders  of  God,"  also,  are 
seen  on  the  sea,  as  well  as  on  the  land. 

We  have  not  time,  here,  to  dwell  on  all  the  won 
ders  of  the  great  deep.  We  might  give  the  water 
spout  as  an  example.  For  several  years  we  had  an 
opportunity  of  observing  the  singular  operations  and 
freaks  of  this  great  phenomenon.  But  while  on  a 
voyage  to  New  Orleans,  we  were  brought  into  a  very 
close  and  dangerous  investigation  of  this  wonder  of 
the  deep.  Our  attention  was  arrested  by  a  little 
dark  cloud  to  windward,  by  its  remaining  perfectly 
stationary,  notwithstanding  considerable  breeze  was 
stirring  at  the  time.  Presently,  a  black  streak  shot 
down  from  it,  and,  winding  about  in  a  tortuous,  ser 
pentine  manner,  it  fastened  upon  the  waters;  it  then 
began  to  swell  and  enlarge,  till  it  seemed  to  be 
about  the  size  of  our  mainmast.  In  the  mean  time, 
the  cloud  spread  wider,  and  grew  blacker.  Presently 
the  spout  withdrew  from  the  sea,  slowly  winding  up 
like  a  corkscrew.  But  so  great  was  the  suction, 
that  the  water  rose,  and  followed  it  to  a  consider 
able  hight,  and  presented  to  the  eyes  of  the  admir 
ing  crew,  the  novel  spectacle  of  a  watery  mound. 
In  a  few  moments  it  returned,  lean  and  meager,  as 
at  the  beginning,  and  fastened  with  increased  greed 
iness  on  the  w*ter,  and  continued  to  draw  and  swell, 
till  failing  gradually,  at  its  junction  with  the  cloud, 
it  fell  into  the  sea.  The  cloud,  now  loosened  from 
its  anchorage,  rolled  swiftly  and  majestically  over 


LOKRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  19 

our  heads,  to  the  no  small  relief  of  all  on  board; 
for  I  never  knew  an  incident  at  sea  to  excite  a  more 
intense  and  painful  interest.  For  my  part,  I  could 
not  help  exclaiming,  "Surely,  some  angelic  agent  of 
heaven  is  concealed  behind  that  cloud,  executing, 
with  a  masterly  hand,  the  orders  of  the  upper  world!" 
The  whole  operation  appeared  so  mechanical,  that 
it  seemed  to  me  as  though  we  had  intruded  into 
one  of  those  secret  places  of  the  Almighty,  where 
he  prepares  the  refreshing  showers,  to  water  and 
revive  distant  mountains.  But  the  wonders  of  the 
Lord,  displayed  on  the  deep,  are  great  and  many; 
and  well  might  the  poet  exclaim, 

.    "  Shout  to  the  Lord,  ye  surging  seas, 

In  your  eternal  roar ; 
Let  wave  to  wave  resound  his  praise, 
And  shore  reply  to  shore." 

II.  They  see  the  work  of  divine  Providence.  The 
work  of  providence  is  as  great  as  the  work  of  crea 
tion.  It  requires  as  much  power  to  uphold  and 
sustain  all  things,  continually,  as  it  did  to  create 
them.  There  are  some  who  acknowledge  a  general, 
but  deny  a  particular  providence.  They  believe 
that  God  superintends  the  rise  and  fall  of  nations — 
that  he  has  something  to  do  with  victories  and  de 
feats — the  destruction  of  fleets  and  armies;  but  they 
do  not  believe  that  he  interferes  with  the  private 
concerns  of  individuals.  Now,  what  would  we  think 
of  that  man,  who  would  acknowledge  the  existence 
of  a  ship,  and  at  the  same  time  deny  the  beams, 
timbers,  spars,  and  rigging,  that  constitute  the  ship? 


*..          *'* 

20     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

Who  does  not  see  that  a  general  providence  is  made 
up  of  particulars?  It  is  said  by  objectors,  that  it  is 
degrading  to  the  character  of  the  supreme  Being  to 
suppose  that  he  will  condescend  to  notice  small 
matters,  while  he  has  such  an  immense  universe  to 
manage.  But  this  is  rather  a  reflection  upon  his  in 
finite  perfection.  It  is  true  that  a  man,  however 
great  he  may  be,  can  not  attend,  properly,  to  more 
than  one  thing  at  a  time;  and  this  is  a  consequence 
of  his  imperfection — his  limited  and  finite  powers. 
And  to  suppose  that  the  Almighty  can  not  attend  to 
small  things,  because  he  has  so  many  worlds  to  gov 
ern,  is  to  make  him  like  one  of  us.  How  much  more 
sublime  is  the  doctrine  of  the  Bible,  that  while  with 
one  glance  he  takes  in  the  universe,  the  smallest 
particle  that  is  floating  in  the  atmosphere  does  not 
escape  his  attention;  the  hairs  of  our  head  are  all 
numbered,  and  not  a  sparrow  can  fall  to  the  ground 
without  his  notice! 

An  infidel  once  overtook  a  shepherd  going  to 
Church.  "Well,  my  man,"  said  he,  "where  are  you 
going?"  The  good  man  replied,  "To  the  church — 
to  worship  God."  "What,  do  you  expect  to  find 
God  in  a  house?"  said  the  infidel,  and  added,  "How 
big,  or,  rather,  how  little  do  you  suppose  your  God 
to  be?"  The  humble  Christian,  stretching  forth  one 
of  his  hands  toward  the  skies,  and  laying  the  other 
on  his  bosom,  solemnly  exclaimed,  "My  God  is  so 
great,  that  the  heaven  of  heavens  can  not  contain 
him;  and  yet  he  is  so  small,  that  he  condescends  to 
dwell  in  my  poor  heart." 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  21 

Again:  others  have  contended  that  the  devil  has 
the  command  of  the  winds.  To  prove  this,  it  has 
been  said,  that  he  is  called,  in  the  Scriptures,  the 
prince  of  the  power  of  the  air.  After  all  that  has 
been  said  on  that  passage,  we  are  not  convinced  that 
it  means  any  thing  more,  than  that  the  malign  and 
powerful  influence  of  the  devil  is  diffused  abroad 
among  the  children  of  disobedience,  as  the  atmos 
pherical  air  pervades  the  creation.  We  admit,  that 
when  the  Lord  is  about  to  execute  the  strange  work 
of  judgment,  he  sometimes  employs  evil  spirits,  and 
that  because  the  work  of  destruction  is  more  agree 
able  to  them,  than  it  is  to  the  pure  and  holy  ones, 
who  love  to  fly  on  errands  of  mercy,  and  to  wait  on 
those  who  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation.  The  Lord 
once  gave  the  devil  the  command  of  the  wind  for  a 
little  while,  for  the  purpose  of  afflicting  Job;  but 
even  then  he  had  his  restrictions:  "Thus  far  sh alt 
thou  go,  and  no  farther."  But  whether  good  or  evil 
spirits  are  employed,  our  text  shows  that  it  is  the 
Lord  who  stands  at  the  helm — it  is  "he  who  com- 
mandeth  and  raiseth  the  stormy  winds,  that  lifteth 
up  the  waves  thereof."  And  let  no  man  rob  the 
sailor  of  this  comfort;  for  if,  in  the  midst  of  the 
ragings  of  the  tempest,  the  devil  is  to  have  his  trick 
at  the  wheel,  we  might  well  exclaim,  "Woe  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  sea!" 

We  might  know,  moreover,  that  it  is  the  Lprd 
who  "  commandeth,"  from  the  circumstance  of  the 
gale  generally  coming  on  in  such  a  merciful  and 
gradual  manner,  as  to  afford  the  skillful  captain  an 


22     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

opportunity  to  prepare  to  meet  its  violence.  He 
generally  has  premonitory  symptoms  of  its  coming. 
First,  he  reluctantly  takes  in  his  light  sails.  But,  as 
the  wind  increases,  he  is  under  the  necessity  of 
reefing,  double-reefing,  and  close-reefing.  Now, 
they  send  down  their  top-gallant-yards  and  masts; 
and,  perhaps,  the  hands  have  scarcely  reached  the 
decks  before  they  are  ordered  up  to  hand  the  top 
sails. 

" Now  it  freshens!    Set  the  hraces; 
Quick  the  top-sail  sheets  let  go  I 
Luff,  boys,  luff!  don't  make  wry  faces; 
Up  the  top-sails  nimbly  clew !" 

Sometimes  they  are  under  the  necessity  of  send 
ing  down  the  top-sail-yards,  and  housing  the  top 
masts.  We  were  once  in  a  gale,  when  we  had  to 
lower  down  our  mainyard  and  lash  it  athwart  the 
beam,  while  the  ship  scudded  under  bare  poles. 
Sometimes  it  gets  worse  still,  and  they  have  to  cut 
away  the  masts.  But  the  gale  becomes  a  perfect 
hurricane,  and  all  hope  of  being  saved  is  entirely 
taken  away.  This  is  about  the  situation  which  is 
described  hi  our  text.  "  They  are  at  their  wits' 
end."  They  have  come  to  the  end  of  all  their 
knowledge  in  seamanship  and  navigation.  "  They 
mount  up  to  heaven;  they  go  down  again  into  the 
deep."  Now  "their  souls  are  melted,  because  of 
trouble."  The  active  sailor  can  scarcely  keep  his 
feet.  "  They  reel  to  and  fro,  and  stagger  like  a 
drunken  man."  Every  moment  they  expect  to  sink 
into  a  watery  grave.  The  voice  of  cursing  and 
blasphemy  is  hushed.  In  silent  anguish  they  gaze 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  23 

upon  each  other,  in  "sad  presage."  The  faithful 
captain,  still  true  to  his  charge,  addresses  them  in 
language  like  this:  "  Well,  my  brave  boys,  you  have 
done  your  duty  like  men.  You  have  my  thanks; 
and  this  is  all  I  can  give  you  in  this  moment  of 
extremity.  All  has  been  done  that  man  or  seaman 
ship  can  do."  And  then,  after  a  solemn  pause,  he 
adds,  "There  is  one,  and  but  one,  expedient  left;" 
and,  raising  his  voice  in  all  the  agony  of  humbled 
nature,  he  exclaims,  "Muster  aft  all  hands!  Douse 
your  tarpaulins,  and  let  us  call  on  the  great  God!" 
My  Lord!  is  it  come  to  this?  "Bend  sinews;  bow 
knees;  help,  Lord!"  "  Then  call  they  upon  the 
name  of  the  Lord."  The  cries,  the  groans,  the 
shrieks  of  the  unhappy  crew,  rise  superior  to  all 
the  bowlings  of  the  tempest;  and  He  who  rides 
upon  the  wings  of  the  careering  wind  "  looks  down 
in  mercy  on  the  feeble  toil  of  mortals  lost  to  hope," 
and  "delivers  them  out  of  all  their  distresses." 
Instances  of  such  deliverance  are  too  numerous  to 
record.  Indeed,  in  many  cases,  the  Lord  has 
arrested  the  sea,  in  all  its  rage  of  tempest,  and  has, 
emphatically,  turned  the  storm  itself  into  a  calm; 
and  that  in  the  most  astonishing  and  miraculous 
manner.  "  Then  are  they  glad,  because  they  be 
quiet."  And,  truly,  there  is  no  mere  earthly  joy 
superior  to  that  which  is  realized  by  men  who  have 
been  thus  providentially  delivered  from  a  watery 
grave;  and  that  my  soul  right  well  knows.  Well 
might  we  add,  "  0,  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord 
for  his  goodness,  and  for  his  wonderful  dealings 


24     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED   CRUISER;   OR, 

with  the  children  of  men!"  For,  when  brought 
safely  to  the  desired  haven,  they  too  often  express 
their  joy  by  acts  of  sin,  by  spending  their  substance 
'among  harlots,  and  in  riotous  living,  and  drive  on 
in  their  downward  career  to  ruin,  as  if  hell  kicked 
them  on  end.  0,  sinner,  pay  unto  the  Lord  your 
vows,  and  sin  against  his  throne  no  more! 

III.  They  see  the  work  of  divine  grace.  The 
work  of  grace  has  been  experienced  on  the  high 
seas,  almost  for  time  immemorial.  In  ancient  times 
it  used  to  be  said,  "  Would  you  teach  your  boy  to 
pray?  send  him  to  sea."  But,  for  generations  past, 
sailors  have  been  proverbial  for  wickedness.  They 
were  so,  when  we  followed  the  sea.  But,  even  in 
that  dark  day,  we  saw,  here  and  there,  a  traveler  to 
Mount  Zion.  They  were  lights  in  a  dark  place,  and 
were,  "like  angels'  visits,  few  and  far  between." 
Lately  there  has  been  a  great  revival  among  sea 
men.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  religious  officers 
and  religious  sailors.  On  some  vessels,  they  have 
their  regular  morning  and  evening  prayers.  Classes 
have  been  formed,  even  in  the  navy.  May  God 
revive  his  work  still  more,  till  every  ship  shall 
become  a  chapel,  every  officer  a  minister  of  Christ, 
and  every  sailor  a  temple  of  the  blessed  Spirit! 
Glory  to  God!  the  night  is  far  spent,  and  the  day  is 
at  hand!  We  know  that  it  is  the  fourth  watch  of 
the  night;  for  Jesus  is  walking  triumphantly  on  the 
seas.  But,  it  may  be  asked,  how  does  the  work  of 
grace  loom  on  the  seas?  There  are  different  ideas 
concerning  it  there,  as  well  as  on  the  land.  Some 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SEKMONS.  25 

think  that  it  is  the  sovereign  work  of  God,  in  which 
the  moral  agency  of  man  has  no  concern.  Others 
go  into  the  opposite  extreme,  and  think  that  man 
possesses  natural  powers,  by  which  he  may  prepare 
himself  for  the  joys  of  an  endless  life.  These  two 
extremes  are  equally  false — equally  ruinous.  Scrip 
ture  and  experience  show  us  a  middle  course,  and 
here  we  have  plain  sailing.  There  are  some  things 
in  the  great  work  of  religion  which  are  wrought  by 
the  sovereignty  of  the  Almighty,  regardless  of  the 
will  of  man,  and  sometimes  in  direct  opposition  to 
his  will.  There  are  other  things  which  are  required 
of  man,  quickened,  as  he  is,  by  the  grace  which 
bringeth  salvation. 

1.  Conviction  is  the  sovereign  work  of  God,  and, 
because  it  is  his  work,  man  is  not  commanded  to  do 
it.      But  the  word  of  God  plainly  shows  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  will  do  this.     He  will  reprove  the  world 
of  sin,  of  righteousness,  and  of  judgment  to  come. 

2.  Eepentance  and  faith   are  fairly  referred  to 
man,  the  Lord  having  endued  him  with  power  to 
act.     Hence,  it  is  said,  "Repent  ye,  and  be  con 
verted."     This  is  a  work  which  God,  in  the  nature 
of   things,   can  not  do,   and  which  he  has  never 
promised  to  do,  for  man. 

3.  Regeneration,   or  the  entire  renewal  of  our 
nature,  in  the  image  of  Him  who  created  us,  is  a 
work  which  nothing  but  almighty  Power  can  per 
form. 

Now  for  an  illustration.     God  has  something  to 
do  even  in  navigation;  so  has  man.     Man  can  hoist 


26     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISEK;  OB, 

his  sails,  board  tacks,  and  gather  aft;  but,  after  all 
this,  he  can  not  raise  the  wind;  and,  when  it  is 
raised,  he  can  not  make  it  veer  and  haul  to  suit  his 
purpose.  If  he  labors  and  toils  with  all  his  strength, 
and  the  Lord  withholds  the  breeze,  he  can  make  no 
headway.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  most  favor 
able  breezes  should  be  sent,  and  man  should  remain 
entirely  inactive,  with  his  hands  in  their  brackets, 
still  there  would  be  no  sailing.  But  when  the  indus 
trious  seaman  has  done  his  duty,  set  all  sail,  and 
trimmed  his  yards,  then  he  may  raise  his  imploring 
eyes  to  heaven,  and  say-^ 

"  Be  gracious,  Heaven !  for  now  laborious  man 
Has  done  his  part;  ye  fostering  breezes,  blow !" 

But  let  us  illustrate  the  work  of  grace  by  our 
text. 

1.  Conviction.  "  The  Lord  commandeth  and 
raiseth  the  stormy  wind."  Man,  previous  to  con 
viction,  is  involved  in  an  awful,  deceitful  calm;  such 
a  dead  calm,  that  he  is  said  to  be  dead  in  trespasses 
and  in  sins.  His  soul  is  not  ruffled  by  temptation; 
for  he  yields  to  the  sweeping  stream.  It  is  easy 
to  drift  with  the  tide.  His  ignorance  of  divine 
things,  too,  is  also  a  fruitful  source  of  false  peace 
and  tranquillity.  "  He  who  knows  nothing,  fears 
nothing."  He  is  fast  asleep  on  the  bosom  of  carnal 
security.  But  when  the  light  of  God  breaks  into 
his  mind,  and  discovers  to  him  the  holiness  of  God, 
the  purity  of  his  law,  and  the  wretched,  fallen  con 
dition  of  the  sinner,  there  ariseth  an  awful  conflict 
within;  a  dreadful  storm  is  sprung  in  the  soul.  The 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  27 

sinner  is  torn  and  agitated  by  the  tempest  of  Divine 
conviction.  The  Lord  has  his  own  way  in  "raising 
the  stormy  wind."  He  struck  Saul  to  the  ground,  as 
with  a  flash  of  lightning.  Peter,  James,  and  John 
he  called  with  a  still,  small  voice,  "  Follow  me." 
These  calls  were  equally  successful.  It  requires 
more  power  to  awaken  some  than  to  awaken  others. 
So  it  is  in  natural  sleep.  When  we  call  all  hands, 
on  board,  some  will  start,  at  the  first  alarm,  and 
spring  from  their  berths,  in  full  possession  of  all 
their  faculties;  while  others  must  be  dragged  from 
their  nests,  and  shaken  powerfully  before  they  can 
be  fully  aroused.  It  is  not,  then,  the  manner,  but 
the  fact,  which  we  inquire  into.  Have  you  been 
convinced  that  you  are  a  sinner  in  the  sight  of  God, 
exposed  to  the  wrath  of  Heaven,  and  in  danger  of 
eternal  fire?  If  so,  it  makes  little  difference  whether 
this  has  been  done  by  a  sermon,  a  shipwreck,  a  flash, 
of  lightning,  or  a  still,  small  voice;  the  Lord  hath 
done  it. 

2.  Repentance.  The  sinner  who  yields  to  con 
viction  repents.  "  His  soul  is  melted  within  him, 
because  of  trouble."  He  is  troubled  at  his  situation. 
He  finds  himself  tossed  on  the  frightful  billows  of 
sin,  every  moment  in  danger  of  eternal  shipwreck. 
He  is  troubled,  because  he  has  sinned  against  so 
good  a  God.  And,  under  the  influence  of  divine 
grace,  the  Holy  Spirit  giving  him  a  good  will,  he 
begins  to  haul  in  his  light  sails  of  vanity.  But  still 
the  storm  increases;  the  tempest  of  condemnation 
bears  down  heavy  upon  him.  "He  has  come  to  his 


28     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

wits'  end."  Yea,  "he  staggers  to  and  fro,  like  a 
drunken  man."  Sometimes,  by  a.  flow  of  hope,  he 
is  lifted  up  to  heaven.  Again  he  sinks  down  into 
the  deeps  of  despair.  He  now  douses  every  sail  of 
opposition;  lets  fly  the  last  rag  of  self-righteousness; 
lays  to,  under  bare  poles,  a  poor,  helpless,  self-con 
demned,  and  dependent  sinner.  "  Then  calls  he 
upon  the  name  of  the  Lord."  Here  we  would  call 
the  sinner's  attention  particularly  to  the  duty  of 
prayer.  Some  will  say,  "  God  is  unchangeable;  and 
how  can  we  hope  that  our  feeble  prayers  will  move 
him  from  his  purpose?"  True,  God  is  unchange 
able;  that  is,  in  his  character,  and  in  all  his  glorious 
attributes.  He  is  unchangeably  holy,  merciful,  just, 
and  true;  and  he  can  not  so  change  as  to  become 
unholy,  cruel,  unjust,  and  false.  But,  were  we  to 
say  that  he  does  not  change,  in  regard  to  his  deal 
ings  with  men,  we  would  contradict  his  own  decla 
ration:  "Thus  saith  the  Lord,  At  what  instant  I 
shall  speak  concerning  a  nation,  to  pluck  up,  to  pull 
down,  and  destroy  it.  If  that  nation,  against  whom 
I  have  pronounced,  turn  from  their  evil,  I  will 
repent  of  the  evil  which  I  thought  to  do  unto  them." 
An  extraordinary  case  of  this  kind  you  will  find  in 
the  people  of  Nineveh.  The  designs  of  God,  con 
cerning  an  individual,  may  change  as  often  as  the 
individual  changes  his  moral  relation  to  God;  and 
that,  too,  without  the  character  of  God  changing. 
If  the  Lord  should  love  a  man  to-day  because  he  is 
righteous,  and  should  continue  to  love  him  to-mor 
row,  after  he  has  become  wicked,  then,  indeed, 


LORKAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  29 

would  the  whole  character  of  God  be  changed.  He 
would  love  righteousness  to-day  and  love  sin  to 
morrow.  When  a  ship  is  engaged  in  lawful  com 
merce,  under  the  American  flag,  all  the  laws  of  our 
country  will  protect  and  defend  her.  But  let  that 
ship  turn,  and  become  a  pirate,  and  take  to  herself 
a  roving  commission  to  sink,  burn,  and  destroy,  and 
in  one  moment  all  the  laws  of  the  land  will  be  lev 
eled  against  her,  and  our  men-of-war  would  pursue 
her  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  in  order  to 
bring  her  to  condign  punishment.  And  would  he 
not  be  a  poor,  simple  lubber,  who  should  say,  "How 
have  the  laws  of  the  United  States  changed!  Yes 
terday  they  protected  us.  Yesterday  the  American 
frigates  would  have  convoyed,  and  fought  for  us,  to 
the  ends  of  the  earth;  but  now,  behold!  they  are 
chasing  and  taking  us  as  lawful  prizes!"  The  laws 
have  not  changed.  They  read  to-day  as  they  did 
yesterday.  But  the  ship  has  changed  her  relation 
to  the  government,  and  the  laws  have,  consequently, 
changed  in  their  operation  on  fier.  So  the  character 
and  attributes  of  the  Lord  change  not;  but  they  act 
on  vacillating  man,  according  to  his  moral  posi 
tion — tribulation  and  anguish  to  every  soul  that 
doeth  evil;  but  to  him  who  seeketh  honor  and 
immortality,  eternal  life. 

Now,  it  is  on  this  immutability  of  God's  char 
acter  that  AVC  found  and  predicate  all  our  hopes  that 
he  will  hear  and  answer  prayer.  We  argue  that  he 
is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  forever;  and, 
inasmuch  as  he,  in  times  past,  heard  and  answered 


30     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CKUISEKJ.OK, 

the  prayers  of  men,  he  will  still  hear  and  answer. 
Is  the  Lord's  arm  shortened  at  all,  that  he  can  not 
save?  Is  his  ear  heavy,  that  he  can  not  hear? 
Then  pray  earnestly,  believe  firmly,  and  the  Lord 
will  deliver  you  out  of  all  your  troubles.  In  answer 
to  prayer,  his  providence  will  save  you  from  a  watery 
grave.  In  answer  to  prayer,  his  grace  will  save 
you  from  the  lake  of  fire.  How  appropriate  the 
song  of  Bishop  Heber! 

"  When  through  the  torn  sail  the  -wild  tempest  is  streaming, 
When  o'er  the  dark  wave  the  red  lightning  is  gleaming, 
Nor  hope  lends  a  ray  the  poor  seaman  to  cherish, 
We  fly  to  our  Maker, '  Save,  Lord,  or  we  perish !' 

0,  Jesus,  once  rocked  on  the  breast  of  the  billow, 
Aroused,  by  the  shriek  of  despair,  from  thy  pillow, 
Now  seated  in  glory,  the  mariner  cherish, 
Who  cries,  in  his  anguish,  '  Save,  Lord,  or  I  perish '.' 

And,  0,  when  the  whirlpool  of  passion  is  raging, 
And  Sin  in  our  breasts  his  wild  warfare  is  waging, 
Then  send  down  thy  grace,  thy  redeemed  to  cherish ; 
Rebuke  the  destroyer:  '  Save, Lord,  or  we  perish!'  " 

3.  Justification  and  regeneration.  "  He  bringetk 
them  out  of  all  their  distresses.  He  maketh  the 
storm  a  calm,  so  that  the  waves  thereof  are  still." 
The  Spirit  of  God  moves  on  the  dark  waters  of  the 
soul,  and  says,  "Peace,  be  still!"  and  there  is  a 
great  calm.  The  sinner  is  justified  freely,  born  of 
God,  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  his  mind,  and  all  his 
jarring  conflicts  are  hushed  to  rest.  He  is  filled 
with  holy  joy.  New  views,  new  motives,  new  feel 
ings  spring  up  within  the  soul,  and  the  storm  of  con 
viction  is  turned  into  a  holy  calm.  "  Then  is  he 
glad."  How  can  he  be  otherwise?  If  sailors  feel 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  31 

glad  when  delivered  from  shipwreck,  may  not  sin 
ners  rejoice  when  snatched  from  a  gaping  hell?  Yes, 
they  are  exceedingly  glad.  They  often  shout  for 
joy.  And  even  when  they  do  not,  if  you  could  see 
their  hearts  as  God  sees  them,  you  would  see 
nothing  but  righteousness,  and  peace,  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghost.  They  are  mistaken  who  suppose  relig 
ion  to  be  gloomy.  What!  gloomy,  to  be  delivered 
from  the  wrath  to  come? — gloomy,  to  have  the 
approbation  of  God,  and  the  testimony  of  a  good 
conscience?  O,  no!  this  would  make  a  devil  happy, 
if  he  could  have  it.  If  he  could  be  delivered  from 
a  guilty  conscience,  and  could  taste  the  pardoning 
love  of  God,  he  would  shout  the  high  praises  of  the 
Lord,  and  shed  a  halo  of  glory  through  the  most 
benighted  caverns  of  damnation. 

4.  Glorification.  "  And  the  Lord  bringeth  them  to 
the  desired  haven."  When  I  was  a  little  sailor-boy, 
it  seemed  to  me  that  the  day  on  which  we  arrived 
was  the  happiest  day  of  all  the  voyage.  The 
change  in  our  fare,  and  in  our  employment;  the 
fragrant  breezes,  that  swept  over  the  orchards  and 
meadows,  and  met  us  on  the  way;  the  delightful 
scenery;  the  singing  of  the  birds  on  the  banks  of 
the  river;  the  vivacity  of  all  hands,  tended  to  tran- 
quilize  our  minds,  and  fill  our  hearts  with  joy.  And 
who  can  describe  the  meeting  of  friends,  and  the 
interest  which  even  strangers  took  in  our  arrival? 
But  what  is  all  this  in  comparison  with  the  happi 
ness  which  will  attend  the  arrival  of  a  tempest- 
beaten  soul  in  glory!  There  are  many  in  our  Amer- 


32     THE  SQUAKK-RIGGED  CRCISEK;  OR, 

ican  ports  who  have  emigrated  from  England,  Ire 
land,  Germany,  and  other  countries.  Sometimes 
these  hear  that  some  of  their  dear  friends  are  about 
to  weigh  anchor,  and  follow  them  to  this  land  of 
liberty.  What  an  excitement  this  news  generally 
creates!  How  anxiously  they  watch  every  arrival! 
Presently  it  is  reported,  there  is  another  ship  in  the 
offing.  The  news  spreads  through  the  city,  and  the 
inhabitants  pour  down  to  the  wharf.  All  is  anxiety 
while  the  vessel  enters  into  port.  Every  eye  is 
strained,  every  spy-glass  leveled.  How  they  watch 
the  movement  of  every  yard,  the  touch  of  every 
buntline,  the  walk,  the  gestures  of  every  one  on 
board!  Now  the  swelling  canvas  bears  her  on. 
She  rushes  toward  the  silent  crowd.  Now  they  let 
fly  their  top-sail  halyards;  clew  up  their  courses;  the 
splashing  anchor  tumbles  from  the  bow;  soon  the 
bounding  jolly-boat  makes  for  the  wharf;  and  now 
they  are  bowsing  her  in,  with  a  hearty  "  Yo-he-vo!" 
My  soul!  my  soul!  there  is  a  scene  which  a  seraph 
might  riot  in!  Wives  and  husbands  are  clasped 
together.  Parents  and  children  rush  into  each 
other's  arms.  True,  they  weep;  but  they  weep 
tears  of  joy.  Even  strangers  feel  the  glow;  while 
tears  of  sympathy  flow  down  the  cheeks  of  the 
weather-beaten  sailor. 

Well,  my  hearts  of  oak,  some  of  our  relations 
and  messmates  have  emigrated.  And  where  to? 
Glory  to  God!  to  a  better  country  than  America! 
They  have  gone  to  heaven;  to  the  land  of  rest;  the 
saint's  delight;  the  haven  desired  by  all  way-worn 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  33 

pilgrims.  It  has  long  been  a  matter  of  dispute,  in 
the  Church,  whether  heaven  is  a  state,  or  place. 
Some  think  that  it  is  a  state,  and  that  our  disem 
bodied  friends  are  all  around  us.  We  believe  that 
it  is  a  place — a  place  of  habitation.  But  is  it  not 
probable  that,  when  our  friends  die  and  go  to 
heaven,  they  are  permitted  to  give  some  informa 
tion  of  our  spiritual  welfare  in  this  world,  to  those 
whom  we  love?  If  so,  when  some  of  your  afflicted 
classmates  shall  shoot  the  solemn  gulf,  and  arrive  at 
home,  and  some  of  your  celestial  friends,  and  bright 
and  happy  spirits,  who  are  looking  out  for  you  to 
come,  shall  begin  to  inquire  of  your  state,  they  may 
answer,  and  say,  "0,  they  will  soon  be  here!  When 
I  left  the  earth,  they  had  their  signal  up  for  sailing. 
The  doctor  had  given  them  up.  Death  was  about 
to  sign  their  clearance.  They  will  soon  be  here. 
Rest  quietly  a  few  moments,  under  the  altar,  till 
they  have  finished  their  testimony."  O,  what  joyful 
news  will  it  be  to  our  friends  on  the  other  side  of  the 
flood!  Our  kindred  on  earth  will  weep  around  our 
dying  bodies;  but  there  will  be  joy  in  heaven.  And 
0,  my  brethren,  will  you  permit  my  religious  fancy 
to  soar  a  region  higher  in  the  contemplation  of  this 
glory?  For  now  methinks  I  hear  the  look-out 
angel  on  the  hill  of  Zion  cry  out,  with  a  voice  of 
seven-fold  thunder,  "  Sail  ho!  sail  ho!  There  is  a 
sail  in  the  ofiing.  It  is  the  packet  of  death.  I  see 
her  signal;  and  she  is  crowded  with  passengers!"  O, 
my  shipmates,  the  news  will  spread  like  lightning 
through  the  gold-paved  streets  of  the  New  Jeru- 
3 


34     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OB, 

salem!  Now  the  bright  and  glittering  inhabitants 
pour  down  to  the  beach  of  eternity.  And  here  she 
comes!  Alleluiah!  Not  dependent  on  the  sluggish 
winds  of  time;  but,  as  quick  as  the  nimble  lightning 
shoots  athwart  the  skies,  she  rushes  to  the  strand. 
Ah!  there  is  the  landing-place;  the  sea-shore  that  is 
sanded  with  gold  dust,  and  graveled  with  diamonds, 
and  all  manner  of  precious  stones!  And,  0,  there 
will  be  shouting!  shouting!  shouting!  on  the  banks 
of  an  endless  life!  Parents  and  children  there  will 
meet — will  meet  to  part  no  more.  Wives  and  hus 
bands,  captains  and  sailors,  preachers  and  people, 
there  will  meet — will  meet  to  part  no  more.  This  is 
no  fiction.  For  just  such  a  harbor  has  God  pre 
pared  for  his  weather-beaten  Church.  In  the  time 
of  Zion's  deepest  affliction,  when  wave  after  wave 
beat  over  her  bows,  the  Lord  addressed  her  with  all 
the  tender  solicitude  of  a  husband,  "  0,  thou 
afflicted,  tossed  with  tempest,  and  not  comforted, 
behold,  I  will  lay  thy  foundation  with  sapphires;  thy 
gates  with  agate;  all,  all  thy  borders  with  precious 
stones!"  The  Lord  convicts,  and  when  the  sinner 
repents  and  believes,  he  converts  and  sanctifies. 
But  some  may  say,  "  This  repenting,  and  praying, 
reading,  fasting,  and  watching,  is  hard  work,  and  we 
are  discouraged  from  undertaking  it."  We  would 
ask  if  heaven  and  eternal  life  are  not  worth  the 
struggle?  See  the  sailor,  entering  on  board  a  ship, 
to  perform  a  dangerous  and  difficult  voyage!  He 
knows  he  will  toil  many  sleepless  nights  on  deck; 
that  he  will  have  dangerous  duties  to  perform;  and, 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  35 

probably,  pine  away  for  days  on  short  allowance. 
Yet  he  has  an  eye  to  the  reward;  and  when  he 
arrives,  and  receives  his  wages,  and  has  a  few  days' 
liberty  on  shore,  he  foi-gets  his  troubles,  and  is  sat 
isfied.  Shall  we  thus  labor  for  the  thino-s  that 

O 

perish?  and  shall  we  consider  heaven  not  worth  an 
effort?  O,  how  well  will  all  be  rewarded  who  enter 
into  the  service  of  Christ!  He  will  bring  them  to 
the  desired  port,  and  pay  them  off;  not  with  a  few 
perishing  shiners;  but  with  crowns  of  glory,  palms 
of  victory,  durable  riches,  and  all  the  indescribable 
blessings  of  the  world  aloft.  And  they  will  have  an 
eternity  of  liberty,  to  range  the  blest  fields  on  the 
banks  of  the  river;  and  Christ  will  say,  "  Come,  ye 
blessed  of  my  Father;  your  voyage  is  over;  your 
warfare  is  accomplished;  enter  ye  into  the  haven  of 
your  God!" 

"When  wrapped  in  the  shadows  of  night, 

The  sinner  reposes  at  ease, 
A  stranger  to  heavenly  light, 
His  calm  is  not  broke  by  a  breeze. 

But  when  on  the  waters,  so  dark, 

The  spirit  of  righteousness  blows, 
The  storm  overwhelms  his  frail  bark, 

And  shatters  his  guilty  repose. 

Now,  sinking  with  anguish,  he  rends 

The  lowermost  hell  of  despair ; 
Now,  lifted  by  hope,  he  ascends, 

And  the  heavens  re-echo  with  prayer. 

For  mercy,  for  mercy  he  calls — 
Self-righteousness  justly  abhorred; 

Like  a  drunkard,  he  staggers,  and  falls 
At  the  feet  of  his  crucified  Lord. 


36    THE  SQUARE-RIGGED   CRUISER;  OR, 

The  tempest  is  hushed  to  a  calm, 
And  mercy  from  heaven  descends, 

While  a  reconciled  God,  through  the  Lamb, 
An  unmerited  pardon  extends. 

The  soul  with  salvation  is  clad, 
While  the  angels  such  mercy  applaud ; 

The  justified  sinner  is  glad, 
And  shouts,  'The  salvation  of  God!'" 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SKKMONB.  37 


SERMON  II. 

CREATION'S   SHEET-ANCHOR   AND   MAN'S 
BEST  BOWER. 

JESUS,  our  Anchor  firm,  abides 

Within  the  heavenly  vail ; 
At  -which  Creation  safely  rides ; 

While  Time  exhausts  its  gale. 

The  Christian's  hopeful  anchor,  too, 

Within  the  pier  is  cast, 
And,  locked  in  th'  eternal  flue, 

Defies  the  mundane  blast. 

Though  angry  devils  rage  and  roar, 

With  tempests  loud  and  dark ; 
Yet  Christ,  our  pilot,  will  secure 

The  weather-beaten  bark. 

And  as  the  tide  of  time  shall  swell, 

Death,  with  his  active  crew, 
Will  man  the  rattling  windlass  well, 

And  heave  us  safely  through. 

Yes,  through  the  pearly  gates  we'll  pass: 

Escape  these  lower  gales, 
And,  on  the  eternal  sea  of  glass, 

Spread  our  immortal  sails ! 

With  the  once-scattered  squadron  meet, 

That  sailed  in  the  convoy ; 
And  join  the  whole  refitted  fleet, 

And  swell  the  general  joy. 

There,  in  the  heaven-protected  dock, 

We'll  store  our  tears  away: 
We'll  bowse  our  sorrows  all  ablock, 

And  for  full  due  belay. 


38     THE  SQUARB-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OK, 

*  This  hope  we  have  as  an  anchor  of  the  soul,  both  sure  and 
steadfast,  and  which  entereth  into  that  within  the  Tail,  whither 
the  forerunner  is  for  us  entered,  even  Jesus,"  HEBREWS  vi,  19,  20. 

WHEN  our  Lord  was  in  this  world,  preaching  his 
own  Gospel,  he  generally  addressed  his  congrega 
tions  in  the  language,  or  phraseology,  to  which  they 
were  accustomed.  When  speaking  to  such  as  were 
engaged  in  agriculture,  he  compared  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  to  a  man  who  went  out  to  sow  seed. 
When  describing  the  same  kingdom  to  fishermen,  he 
likened  it  to  a  net  cast  into  the  sea.  To  persons 
employed  in  household  matters,  he  said  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  is  "like  a  little  leaven  which  a  woman 
hid  in  three  measures  of  meal,  till  the  whole  became 
leavened." 

After  the  ascension  of  our  Lord,  his  inspired 
apostles  pursued  the  same  judicious  method.  They 
sometimes  represent  the  Christian's  conflict  in  this 
life  as  a  race.  "In  a  race  all  run.  Let  us  run 
with  patience  the  race  set  before  us."  Sometimes 
they  call  it  a  warfare:  "  The  weapons  of  our  warfare 
are  not  carnal."  In  our  text,  the  apostle  uses  the 
language  of  a  sailor:  "This  hope  we  have  as  an 
anchor  of  the  soul." 

In  explaining  this  text,  we  will  attend  principally 
to  the  analogy  of  the  subject.  Indeed,  there  is  a 
very  striking  analogy  existing  between  a  literal  voy 
age  on  the  high  seas,  and  the  more  important  voyage 
of  human  life.  In  the  former,  we  have  our  storms 
and  our  calms.  Sometimes  not  a  solitary  breath  of 
air  ruffles  the  smooth  expanse — all  is  lovely  and 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  39 

tranquil.  At  other  times  the  mustering  clouds  begin 
to  gather  over  our  heads,- the  lightnings  flash,  the 
thunder  rolls,  the  foaming  billows  rush,  like  mount 
ains,  to  the  skies;  and  the  distressed  mariner  expects 
every  moment  to  be  swallowed  up  in  the  deep  and 
dark  abyss.  Just  so  in  human  life.  Sometimes  all 
is  placid  and  calm — not  a  wave  of  trouble  rolls 
across  the  peaceful  breast,  to  disturb  the  -even  tenor 
of  the  mind.  At  other  times  the  dark  and  scowling 
clouds  of  adversity  arise — the  chilling  blasts  of  pov 
erty  blow — heavy  squalls  of  temptation  descend; 
and  the  poor  voyager  through  life  is  ready  to  sit 
down  in  sorrow,  and  let  the  waves  of  despair  over 
whelm  him.  But  let  us  trace  the  voyage  through. 

1.  When  a  ship  is  about  to  put  out  to  sea,  it  is 
necessary  to  have  what  is  called  a  good  "depart 
ure" — the  true  bearings,  and  distance  of  the  cape, 
or  headland,  which  she  is  about  "to  leave;  for,  if 
the  departure  is  incorrect,  the  consequence  will  be 
that  the  reckoning  will  become  more  and  more  erro 
neous  every  day,  and,  in  the  absence  of  clear  weath 
er,  may  involve  the  navigator  in  a  series  of  difficul 
ties,  from  which  he  may  not  easily  extricate  himself. 
So,  also,  it  is  necessary  that  souls,  who  have  to 
prosecute  the  voyage  of  human  life,  should  have  a 
good  departure.  By  this  we  mean  a  liberal  and 
pious  education.  "Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he 
should  go,  and  when  he  is  old  he  will  not  depart 
from  it."  We  knew  a  man  who,  in  his  lisping  child 
hood,  was  guilty  of  one  oath,  which  was  overheard 
by  his  father,  who  promptly  gave  him  a  severe  chas- 


40.    THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

tisement;  and,  although  he  afterward  traversed  the 
seas  for  several  years,  in  a  ship  which  the  crew 
themselves  familiarly  called  a  floating  hell,  and  al 
though  he  fell  into  many  wicked  practices,  yet  he 
was  never  heard,  in  all  his  wanderings,  to  use  pro 
fane  language  again.  Those  who  have  a  religious 
departure,  possess  a  signal  advantage  over  all  others 
who  are  navigating  life's  dangerous  seas.  This  is 
particularly  offered  to  parents,  and  guardians,  who 
are  in  charge  of  young,  but  deathless  spirits. 

2.  It  is  necessary  that  a  ship  should  be  furnished 
with  a  chart,  to  direct  her  in  her  voyage.  By  a 
chart,  we  mean  a  marine-map,  on  which  all  the  cur 
rents,  isles,  rocks,  shoals,  and  dangers,  which  are 
connected  with  the  sea  about  to  be  navigated,  are 
accurately  laid  down;  so  that  the  skillful  captain 
can  spread  it  out,  and  with  his  scale  and  dividers 
mark  the  several  courses  and  distances  which  he  has 
run,  so  as  to  have  his  whole  voyage,  in  miniature, 
before  him.  And  he  can  see,  at  one  glance,  the  re 
lation  in  which  he  stands  to  every  object  around  him. 
The  immortal  soul  must,  also,  have  a  chart.  The 
necessity  of  such  a  chart  almost  proves  its  existence. 
We  see  that  all  things  around  us  are  governed  by 
law.  The  planets,  which  roll  in  majestic  splendor 
over  our  heads,  although  they  are  continually  per 
forming  their  annual  and  diurnal  revolutions,  are  so 
governed  by  the  attractive  and  repulsive  laws  of 
heaven,  that  they  can  not  possibly  come  in  contact 
with  each  other,  or  infringe  upon  the  smallest  parti 
cle  of  matter  that  is  afloat  in  all  the  extensive  empire 


LORKAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  41 

of  God's  dominions.  The  brute  creation  is  governed 
by  the  laws  of  instinct.  And  be  these  laws  what 
they  may,  they  have  come  from  God.  The  ox  know- 
eth  his  master,  and  the  ass  his  owner's  crib.  The 
faithful  dog  starts  at  the  first  approach  of  the  robber, 
and  sounds  the  alarm  in  his  master's  ears.  The 
beasts  of  the  field,  the  fowls  of  the  air,  the  fishes 
of  the  sea,  are  all  continually  doing  their  duty,  and 
answering  the  special  purposes  for  which  they  were 
created.  And  can  we  suppose  that  the  Lord  would 
thus  instruct  all  the  meaner  creation,  and  make  man 
ifest,  even  to  the  most  loathsome  reptile,  his  duty, 
and  at  the  same  time  leave  man — the  noblest  work 
manship  of  his  hand — he  who  bears  the  stamp  and 
impress  of  the  Deity  on  his  front — who  walks  with 
countenance  erect,  and  eyes  on  heaven — 

"He  for  whose  sake  all  nature  stands, 
And  stars  their  courses  move" — • 

leave  him,  I  say,  at  the  head  of  the  lower  creation, 
grasping  the  reins  of  universal  government  in  his 
hands,  without  a  compass  to  direct,  or  star  to  guide 
him,  through  all  the  dreary  paths  of  human  life? 
No;  man  has  a  chart — a  precious  chart;  and  that 
chart  is  the  Bible.  This  is  a  perfect  chart.  Com 
mon  charts  are  hardly  ever  perfect.  They  are  some 
times  drawn  wrong;  and  when  drafted  right,  typo 
graphical  errors  occur  in  the  publication.  But  "the 
law  of  the  Lord  is  perfect,  converting  the  soul." 
This  chart  is  right,  and  a  sure  directory,  and  can  be 
implicitly  depended  on.  "The  statutes  of  the  Lord 
are  right,  rejoicing  the  heart;  the  testimonies  of  the 


42     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISEK;  OR, 

Lord  are  sure,  making  wise  the  simple."  Moreover, 
the  Christian's  chart  is  a  clean  and  pure  chart.  It 
often  happens  that  when  a  literal  chart  is  tolerably 
correct,  it  is  soiled,  or  chafed,  by  use,  so  that  it  is 
difficult  to  trace,  and  portions  of  it  are  entirely  de 
faced;  but  it  is  not  so  with  the  law  of  God — man's 
best  chart.  "The  commandment  of  the  Lord  is 
pure,  enlightening;  ....  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is 
clean,  enduring  forever."  0,  it  is  a  valuable — a 
sweet  chart!  "more  to  be  desired  than  gold;  yea, 
than  much  fine  gold;  sweeter,  also,  than  honey,  or 
the  honeycomb."  In  this  glorious  chart,  all  the 
rocks,  shoals,  quicksands,  sins,  and  propensities,  on 
which  it  is  possible  for  an  immortal  soul  to  founder, 
are  carefully  laid  down,  so  that  the  wayfaring  man, 
though  a  fool,  shall  not  err  therein. 

"  Most  wondrous  book — bright  candle  of  the  Lord ! 
Chart  of  eternity !    The  only  chart 
By  which  the  bark  of  man  can  navigate 
The  sea  of  life,  and  gain  the  port  of  bliss." 

3.  A  chart  would  be  of  little  service  on  board, 
without  a  compass.  A  compass  is  a  circular  card, 
on  which  all  the  points  of  the  horizon  are  marked. 
The  north  point,  which  is  distinguished  by  a  fleur  de 
Us,  or  some  other  ornament,  is  fixed  in  such  a  rela 
tion  to  the  magnetic  needle,  that  when  the  card  is 
left  to  revolve  freely,  the  northern  point  will  be  di 
rected  toward  the  north  pole.  By  the  help  of  this 
compass,  the  helmsman  can  steer  to  any  point  in  the 
horizon;  and,  although  he  may  steer  wildly,  or,  as 
the  sailor  would  say,  yaw  miserably,  yet  he  can  not 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  43 

do  so  without  being  admonished  of  his  error  by  the 
faithful  compass  that  lies  before  him.  Now,  con 
science  is  the  compass  of  the  soul.  As  the  magnetic 
needle  points  to  the  pole,  so  a  well-instructed  con 
science — one  that  is  deeply  imbued  with  divine  grace, 
and  regulated  by  the  word  of  God,  the  lodestone 
of  eternal  truth — will  perpetually  point  to  duty,  to 
grace,  to  glory,  and  to  God;  and,  although  man,  in 
the  abuse  of  his  moral  agency,  may  steer  wide  of 
the  glory  of  God,  yet  he  can  not  do  so  without  be 
ing  reproved  and  admonished  by  that  sleepless  mon 
itor  within;  at  least,  he  can  not  while  the  light  of 
life  glows  in  the  binnacle. 

4.  The  ship  must  have  a  rudder.  The  rudder  is 
made  of  flattened  pieces  of  timber,  and  is  swung  to 
the  stern  in  a  vertical  position,  and  left  to  turn  freely 
on  its  irons.  When  the  vessel  is  forced  through  the 
water  by  the  wind,  a  current  presses  on  both  sides 
of  the  rudder,  and,  by  a  proper  movement  of  the 
helm,  the  head  of  the  vessel  can  be  thrown  to  either 
side,  or,  indeed,  in  any  direction.  This  beautifully 
represents  the  human  will.  There  has  been  much 
said  about  natural  ability  and  moral  ability;  but, 
without  controversy,  we  would  simply  say,  that  man 
has  a  will,  or  he  has  not.  If  he  has  not,  he  is  a 
mere  machine,  drifting  about  on  a  sea  of  uncertainty, 
tossed  to  and  fro  by  every  wind  of  chance,  and  is 
not  an  accountable  being.  But  if  he  has  a  will, 
then  is  he  answerable  to  God  for  all  the  deeds  done 
in  the  body.  Now,  as  the  mariner  handles  the  helm, 
in  accordance  with  the  direction  of  his  compass,  and 


44     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OK, 

keeps  his  course,  so  man,  by  the  grace  of  God,  can 
exercise  his  will  according  to  the  movements  of  a 
conscience  divinely  illuminated;  and  so  his  head  is 
kept  up  for  the  New  Jerusalem,  and  his  wake  spar 
kles  with  glory. 

5.  The  ship  has  her  masts,  yards,  sails,  and  rig 
ging.  These  are  like  the  means  of  grace — prayer, 
fasting,  reading,  and  meditation.  But  when  the 
vessel  is  thus  equipped — her  sails  bent,  hoisted  up, 
and  sheeted  home,  and  all  her  yards  trimmed — still 
she  does  not  move;  she  lies,  rolling  like  a  lifeless 
log,  on  the  bosom  of  the  great  deep.  She  is  waiting 
for  the  favorable  breezes  of  heaven.  Here,  vain  is 
the  help  of  man.  The  fainting  crew  sigh;  and  you 
may  see  them  leaning  over  the  bows,  superstitiously 
whistling  to  arouse  the  slumbering  air.  Perhaps 
some  pious  soul  is  breathing  his  prayers  to  a  higher 
power.  But  see,  it  comes  in  the  far  distance,  darkly 
dancing  on  the  surface  of  the  great  deep.  Presently 
it  kisses  the  top-ga'nt-sails — strikes  the  top-sails — 
swells  the  courses;  every  rope-yarn  moves;  the  spars 
creak;  the  beams  and  timbers  gather  life  and  anima 
tion;  the  compass  trembles;  the  tiller  quivers;  and 
away  she  goes,  with  a  whistling  wind,  and  a  bone 
in  her  teeth.  In  like  manner,  Christians  can  do 
nothing  of  themselves;  but,  by  the  grace  of  God 
they  can  do  all  things:  they  can  use  the  means — 
watch  and  pray — board  tacks,  and  gather  aft,  trim 
their  yards,  look  aloft,  and,  glory  to  God!  the  heav 
enly  breezes  of  grace  will  come — strike  their  immor 
tal  souls,  animate  their  drowsy  powers,  and  away 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  45 

they  will  go,  heads  up,  for  Mount  Zion!  And  did 
we  ever  hear  of  a  ship  lying  on  the  ocean  till  it  de 
cayed  and  dropped  to  pieces,  for  want  of  a  wind? 
No,  never.  It  is  true  that  every  vessel  is  not  visited 
by  favorable  breezes  at  the  same  time,  or  in  the  same 
degree,  or  under  the  same  circumstances;  but  the 
breeze  comes,  sooner  or  later;  so  that  all  have  an 
opportunity,  if  they  will  improve  it,  of  getting  into 
port.  Thus,  "the  grace  of  God  that  bringeth  salva 
tion,  hath  appeared  unto  all  men."  "Yes,"  say 
some,  "common  grace."  We  care  not  whether  you 
call  it  common,  or  uncommon;  it  is  the  grace  that 
bringeth  salvation;  and  that  grace  is  good  enough 
for  poor  sinners. 

6.  A  ship  fitted  up  as  above,  can,  with  the  favor 
ing  winds  of  heaven,  do  much  good.  A  ship  binds 
together  the  nations  of  the  earth,  in  a  golden  chain 
of  commerce.  She  brings  to  our  shores  many  of 
the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  life.  When  multiplied 
into  a  navy,  they  bear  our  republic  thunder  to  the 
ends  of  the  earth,  and  become  a  mighty  bulwark  of 
human  freedom.  Indeed,  we  are  indebted,  under 
God,  to  the  invention  of  ships,  for  the  very  soil  on 
which  we  were  born.  And  can  we  here  forget  the 
illustrious  Columbus? 

The  man,  who  first,  with  enterprising  keel, 
Urged  by  determined  resolution,  plowed 
The  vast — unmeasured  billows  of  the  west? 
Of  all  the  noble  souls  who  ever  stemm'd 
The  wide,  tempestuous  ocean,  greatest  he ! 
He  bade  another,  and  a  better  world 
Arise  to  view.    He  opened  to  mankind 
A  fair  asylum  from  despotic  sway. 


46     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

The  recompense  he  gained,  were  chains  and  death ; 
But,  after  death,  a  never-dying  fame. 

It  may  be  said  that  ships  have  been  perverted  to 
foul  purposes,  such  as  piracy,  and  the  slave-trade. 
This  is  true,  as  exceptions;  but  what  has  been  more 
successful,  instrumentally,  in  suppressing  these  evils? 
See  that  miserable  picaroon,  that  has  been  running 
down  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  robbing  unhappy 
Guinea  of  her  children!  She  is  homeward-bound, 
freighted  with  human  spoil.  Hundreds  of  suffering 
mortals  are  crowded  together  in  her  poisonous  hold. 
But  the  gallant  frigate  has  spied  her,  and  will  not 
let  her  pass.  She  tacks  and  beats,  and  outs  with 
her  boats  and  sweeps,  till  she  brings  them  under  the 
sweep  of  her  long-toms.  Does  she  still  crowd? 
Does  she  expect  to  escape  the  just  judgments  of 
almighty  God?  No,  no;  the  man-of-war  takes  the 
weather-gauge.  Now  she  lets  fly  a  bow-chaser. 
Now  she  opens  her  broadsides.  Bear  away;  bear 
away,  boys!  Out  with  your  grappling-irons!  board 
her!  board  her!  Down  with  her  bloody  flag! 

"  Wrench  from  their  hands  oppression's  iron  rod, 
And  bid  the  cruel  feel  the  pains  they  give." 

The  captives  rejoice.  Their  chains  fall  off;  and  un 
der  the  wide-spread  wings  of  Mercy",  they  are  waft- 
,  ed  away  to  Liberia,  or  some  distant  part  of  God's 
universe,  where  they  once  more  breathe  the  uncon- 
taminated  air  of  glorious  freedom.  As  the  ship  can 
do  much  good,  when  properly  manned,  and  favored 
with  the  winds  of  heaven,  so  the  Christian,  sustained 
by  divine  influences,  may  do  many  good  works. 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  47 

God  requires  it  of  him.  If  we  are  faithful,  the  Lord 
will  say  to  us  in  the  last  day,  "  Come,  ye  blessed  of 
my  Father:  I  was  hungry,  and  ye  gave  me  meat; 
thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  drink;  naked,  and  ye  clothed 
me.  Enter  ye  into  the  joys  of  your  Lord." 

7.  A  ship  at  sea  can  not  always  have  fair  weather; 
and  it  is  a  common  saying  among  seamen,  that  the 
devil  himself  would  be  a  sailor,  if  he  could  always 
have  fair  weather,  and  could  look  aloft.  Sometimes, 
no  small  tempest  will  lay  upon  us:  sun,  moon,  and 
stars,  are  not  seen  for  many  days.  When  this  is 
the  case,  and  we  can  no  longer  get  a  sight  of  the 
sun,  we  have  to  depend  altogether  on  dead  reckoning, 
as  it  is  called — work  our  way  by  calculation.  Now, 
it  is  so  difficult  to  make  proper  allowance  for  leeway, 
and  unknown  currents,  especially  in  stormy  times, 
that  our  log-book  will  soon  become  very  erroneous. 
But  the  careful  captain  does  not  feel  easy  in  this  sit 
uation.  Every  day,  toward  noon,  he  will  walk  the 
decks  with  much  anxiety,  with  his  quadrant  in  hand, 
in  hopes  of  catching  the  sun.  Every  now  and  then 
he  raises  the  instrument  to  his  eyes.  Presently  the 
clouds  part;  he  quickly  lifts  his  quadrant,  and  takes 
the  sun.  He  now  ascertains  the  true  latitude,  knows 
where  he  is,  and  can  discover  when  and  where  he 
erred  in  his  calculations,  and  can  correct  his  log 
book.  Nor  do  Christians  always  sail  in  sunshine. 
Sometimes  they  are  in  heaviness,  and  darkness, 
through  manifold  temptations.  In  this  situation, 
they  make  calculations,  and  feel  their  way  as  best 
they  may.  But  the  child  of  God  is  not  satisfied 


48     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OB, 

with  dead  reckoning.  A  mere  "hope  so,"  will  not 
do,  when  eternal  life  is  at  stake.  He  is  constantly 
raising  the  quadrant  of  prayer,  and  straining  the  eye 
of  faith.  At  last,  bless  Heaven!  the  clouds  break, 
the  darkness  flies,  and  the  unclouded  beams  of  the 
Sun  of  righteousness  look  out,  and  shine  upon  the 
soul — the  Spirit's  seal.  He  now  knows  where  he  is, 
and  can  look  up,  and  read  his  title  clear  to  mansions 
in  the  skies;  and  can  say,  "Abba,  Father,"  with  an 
unfaltering  tongue.  He  can  now  see  and  correct 
some  of  his  errors;  and,  if  there  are  any  which  he 
can  not  straighten,  he  has  an  Advocate  with  the 
Father — Jesus  Christ,  the  righteous. 

8.  A  ship  can  not  do  without  an  anchor.  We 
hardly  need  state  that  an  anchor  is  a  ponderous  iron 
instrument,  which  is  used  to  hold  the  vessel  to  her 
moorings,  when  she  enters  a  bay,  roadstead,  or 
river.  Now,  it  is  not  the  minister  who  is  addressing 
you;  but  the  inspired  author  of  our  text,  who 
declares  that  hope  is  the  Christian's  anchor.  Hope, 
when  personified,  has  always  been  represented  as 
leaning  on  an  anchor.  This  is  to  show  the  stability 
and  imperishable  character  of  Christian  hope.  The 
apostle  says  that  this  hope,  or  anchor,  enters  into 
that  within  the  vail.  Now,  the  question  arises, 
What  is  meant  by  that  within  the  vail?  It  means 
that  the  Christian's  anchor  enters  into  that  anchor 
which  is  within  the  vail.  Here  are  two  anchors — 
one  expressed,  and  the  other  clearly  implied.  The 
anchor  within  the  vail  represents  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  considered  in  his  eternal  power  and  Godhead. 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SEKMONS.  49 

This  is  the  great  sheet-anchor  of  the  universe.  He 
upholds  and  supports  all  things  by  the  word  of  his 
power.  All  things,  Avhether  visible  or  invisible — 
thrones  and  dominions,  principalities  and  powers — 
are  upheld  by  this  anchor  within  the  vail.  The 
Christian's  hope,  the  pardoned  sinner's  best  bcnoer,  is 
firmly  locked  in  this  immovable  mooring.  We 
might  elicit  some  light  on  this  subject,  from  customs 
which  prevail,  even  in  modern  times,  in  some  ports. 
In  the  river  Thames,  England,  ponderous  anchors 
are  ranged  along  the  bottom,  at  proper  distances 
from  each  other.  When  a  ship  arrives,  as  soon  as 
the  tide  slacks,  a  barge  comes  along  side,  which  is 
furnished  with  a  windlass,  and  all  necessary  pur 
chase.  The  bargemen  heave  up  the  ring  of  the 
great  anchor,  make  fast  the  ship's  cable  to  it,  let  it 
go,  and  they  heave  in  the  slack  on  board.  They 
then  moor  the  stern  in  the  same  way,  and  bowse  all 
taut.  As  many  as  five  or  six  vessels  are  thus 
moored  to  the  same  anchors,  and  made  fast  to  each 
other.  On  both  sides  of  the  channel  they  are  thus 
ranged  for  two  or  three  miles,  all  riding  at  anchors, 
within  the  port.  Beside  this,  they  have  docks  for 
the  better  security  of  the  ship.  These  can  be 
entered  only  at  the  flood  tide,  or  high  water.  Ships 
entering  with  the  rising  tide,  make  fast,  and  wait  till 
full  flood.  Then  the  gates  are  opened;  the  vessels 
are  warped  in,  and  made  fast  to  ring-bolts,  or 
anchors,  imbedded  in  the  solid  wharves;  and,  being 
surrounded  by  high  walls,  they  are  as  safe  as  if 
stored  away  in  a  warehouse.  The  ports  in  ancient 


50     THE  SQUAKE-RIGGED  CKUISER;  OB, 

times  were  often  artificial,  and  had  anchors,  such  as 
they  were,  to  fasten  to,  within  the  dock,  or  pier 
head.  The  Christian  is  here  represented  as  not 
having  got  into  heaven,  but  as  having  got  so  near 
that  he  resembles  the  vessel  which  has  arrived  near 
the  port,  but,  in  consequence  of  the  state  of  the  tide, 
can  not  get  in.  She  sends  out  her  hawser  and 
kedge,  and  fastens  to  the  anchor  within  the  vail,  and 
waits  patiently  the  rising  of  the  tide. 

9.  But  here  our  text  takes  a  sudden  gybe;  and  the 
apostle  says,  "  Whither  our  forerunner  has,  for  us, 
entered,  even  Jesus."  This  forerunner,  or  pilot, 
represents  our  Savior  as  the  great  Mediator  between 
God  and  man.  The  pilot  is  a  character  who,  in 
many  respects,  is  entirely  distinct  from  all  the  crew. 
He  belongs  not  to  the  ship's  company;  but  generally 
resides  in  the  port  to  which  the  vessel  is  bound. 
When  he  looks  out  on  the  stormy  coast,  and  spies 
an  approaching  sail  making  for  the  harbor,  he  lays 
aside  his  long-togs,  throws  on  his  tarpaulin-jacket, 
steps  into  his  boat,  and  fearlessly  puts  out  into  the 
gathering  storm,  boards  the  vessel,  and  conducts 
her  safely  in.  So  our  Savior,  the  infallible  pilot  of 
Christians,  is  not  a  citizen  of  this  world.  If  he 
were  of  this  world,  the  world  would  love  its  own; 
but  because  he  was  not  of  this  world,  therefore  the 
world  hated  him.  He  is  of  the  kingdom  of  glory, 
the  celestial  city  to  which  all  saints  are  bound.  He 
was  robed  with  immortality  and  eternal  light  before 
the  world  began.  But  when  he  looked  down  on  this 
tempestuous  world,  and  saw,  in  prospection,  millions 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  51 

of  immortal  souls  driving  in  lawless  confusion  to 
destruction,  and  ready  to  founder  in  the  gulf  of 
eternal  perdition,  his  bosom  moved  with  divine  com 
passion.  He  laid  aside  his  vestments  of  glory,  put 
on,  as  it  were,  the  jacket  and  trowsers  of  humanity, 
the  form  of  a  servant,  and,  under  the  wide-spread 
sails  of  mercy,  he  put  out  to  our  relief.  Yes,  ship 
mates;  he  has  boarded  your  trembling  barks; 
"  Christ  in  you  the  hope  of  glory."  He  has  raised 
your  hope,  your  anchor,  to  the  skies,  and  firmly 
grounded  it  in  his  eternal  divinity.  And,  although 
you  are  not  yet  in  heaven,  you  are  waiting  for  a 
favorable  swell,  Avhen  you  will  enter,  shouting,  in. 
We  now  feel  our  confidence  strong,  and  can  say, 
"Let  devils  rage,  and  whales  spout,  and  hell  roar; 
blessed  be  God!  our  anchor  is  within  the  vail,  firmly 
locked  in  the  eternal  anchor  of  heaven  and  earth." 
And  we  are  persuaded  that  neither  life,  nor  death, 
nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  any  other  creat 
ure,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of 
God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  our  Lord.  "  But," 
says  one,  "I  Avould  to  heaven  the  tide  would  rise 
and  waft  me  in;  for,  while  lingering  on  the  shores 
of  time,  I  am  afraid  of  being  driven  out  to  sea 
again."  You  need  not  fear.  The  anchor  to  which 
you  are  moored  is  good — Jesus  Christ,  the  true 
God,  and  eternal  life.  The  cable  is,  also,  good. 
Indeed,  the  Christian's  cable  is  a  most  extraordinary 
one.  The  more  we  use  literal  cables,  the  weaker 
they  become.  They  are  subject  to  decay,  liable  to 
be  chafed,  and  are  at  last  laid  by  as  not  sea-worthy. 


52     THE  SQU AKE-RIGGED  CKUISER;  OK, 

It  is  not  so  with  our  spiritual  cable.  It  has  three 
strands — faith,  love,  and  prayer.  These  are  divine 
and  imperishable  materials,  if  we  might  so  speak. 
The  more  we  use  this  precious  cord,  the  stronger  it 
becomes.  It  is  like  a  timber-hitch — the  harder  you 
draw,  the  tighter  it  jams.  You  may  overhaul  it 
closely,  strand  by  strand.  What  is  stronger  than 
faith?  It  is  stronger  than  fleets  and  armies;  for  it 
has  "  subdued  kingdoms."  No  shark  of  hell  can 
rend  its  sacred  texture.  It  has  "  stopped  the  mouths 
of  lions."  War  can  not  destroy  it.  It  has  "  escaped 
the  edge  of  the  sword."  It  is  water-proof  and  fire 
proof.  It  has  "  quenched  the  violence  of  the  flame." 
Sometimes,  by  constant  use,  wear  and  tear,  on  ship 
board,  we  make  strong  cables  weak;  but  it  is  differ 
ent  with  faith;  for  "  out  of  weakness  it  is  made 
strong."  The  more  we  exercise  it,  the  stronger  is 
our  hold  on  heaven. 

But  the  strand  of  love.  It  is  a  sufficient  recom 
mendation,  when  it  is  said,  "  that  it  is  sweeter  than 
life,  and  stronger  than  death."  Death  conquers  all 
but  love,  the  bond  of  perfectness. 

In  regard  to  prayer,  every  Christian  knows  that 
it  never  wears  out.  The  more  we  pray,  the  more 
we  love  to  pray.  The  more  we  use  that  gift,  the 
brighter  it  shines.  Then,  while  we  keep  faith,  love 
and  prayer  in  lively  exercise,  we  can  not  lose  oui 
hold;  we  can  not  drag.  "Well,"  says  one,  "what 
do  you  mean?  Will  you  run  us  into  the  harbor  of 
unconditional  perseverance?"  God  forbid  that  we 
should  direct  you  to  such  dangerous  anchorage! 


LOKRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  53 

Although  a  ship  may  be  moored  too  strong  for  the 
storm  to  drive  her,  yet  the  captain  might  slip  her 
cable.  And  should  he  begin  to  slacken,  and  pay  out, 
and,  the  ship  begin  to  gather  stern-way,  the  cable 
will  go  faster  and  faster,  till  it  will  fly  round  like 
lightning,  set  the  windlass  on  fire,  run  out  to  the 
better  end,  and  the  vessel  may  be  driven  out  to  sea 
again,  wrecked,  and  lost.  It  may  be  said  that  no 
seaman  would  do  this.  We  were,  however,  with  a 
captain  who  did  this,  in  a  heavy  gale;  and  it  was  of 
the  mercy  of  God  that  he  reached  his  mooring 
again.  But,  if  none  were  so  foolish  as  to  do  this,  it 
only  confirms  the  declaration  of  our  Lord,  who  says, 
"  The  children  of  this  world  are  wiser  in  their  gen 
eration  than  the  children  of  light;"  for  Christians 
have  too  often  slipped  their  cables,  relaxed  their 
faithy  grown  cold  in  love,  and  restrained  prayer. 
Then  they  begin  to  gather  stern- way;  backslide 
faster  and  faster,  till  they  are  driven  back  into  the 
world  again,  and  they  will  have  hard  work  to  regain 
their  anchorage.  St.  Paul  tells  us  of  two  gallant 
men-of-war,  Hymeneus  and  Alexander,  who  made 
shipwreck  of  faith  and  a  good  conscience.  That 
Christians  may  backslide,  is  admitted  by  all;  and, 
without  disputing  whether  all  may  beat  back  again, 
all  will  admit  that  it  is  wrong  to  let  go  our  hold  in 
the  slightest  degree.  Therefore,  let  us  watch  and 
pray,  and  hold  fast  our  confidence,  trusting  in  the 
Lord.  Let  us  hoist,  for  our  motto,  "  Don't  give  up 
the  ship,"  and  nothing  will  be  able  to  harm  us  while 
we  are  followers  of  that  which  is  good. 


54     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OK, 

10.  Who  has  this  anchor — this  Christian  hope? 
May  the  Lord  forbid  that  any  of  us  should  be  like 
the  foolish  Dutchman,  who  was  boasting,  while  at 
sea,  that  he  had  a  superior  anchor  and  cable;  but 
when  he  was  about  to  be  driven  on  a  lee-shore,  he 
recollected  that  he  had  left  them  at  home!  Perhaps 
if  we  were  to  ask  the  most  wicked  man  on  earth,  if 
he  has  this  hope,  he  would  say,  "Yes,  I  hope  to  get 
to  heaven."  And  he  would  wonder  at  the  simplicity 
of  the  question.  But  there  are  many  who  do  not 
understand  the  import  of  the  word.  Hope  is  made 
up  of  desire  and  expectation.  Where  either  desire 
or  expectation  is  wanting,  there  is  no  hope.  Where 
a  man  expects  a  thing  to  take  place,  but  does  not 
desire  it,  he  can  not  say,  consistently,  that  he  hopes 
for  it.  A  person  at  sea,  during  the  raging  of  a  tem 
pest,  may  expect  to  be  lost;  but  he  does  not  desire  it. 
No  one  then  would  believe  him  if  he  should  say,  "I 
hope  to  be  cast  away."  Again:  an  invalid  may 
earnestly  desire  to  be  in  a  warmer  climate;  but  if 
in  a  vessel  bound  for  Greenland,  he  can  not  expect 
to  reach  such  a  climate;  therefore,  he  has  no  hope 
in  this  matter.  But  if  he  desires  a  warmer  country, 
and  is  sailing  for  it,  at  the  rate  of  ten  knots  an  hour, 
then  he  may  hope. 

Now,  the  sinner  says  he  desires  to  go  to  heaven. 
Well,  admitting  that  he  does,  has  he  any  expectation 
of  heaven,  living  in  sin?  We  know  nothing  about 
heaven,  but  what  is  taught  us  in  the  word  of  God; 
and  that  word  says,  that  "the  wicked  shall  be  turned 
into  hell;"  that  "they  shall  go  away  into  everlasting 


LOERAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  65 

punishment."  On  what,  then,  can  he  found  an  ex 
pectation?  But  we  deny  that  the  wicked  man  has 
even  a  genuine  desire.  He  desires  to  go  to  heaven 
when  he  dies,  because  he  does  not  wish  to  go  to 
hell — to  a  place  of  positive  torment.  Of  two  evils, 
he  feels  disposed  to  choose  the  least.  He  desires  to 
live  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  sin  in  this  world,  and 
when  he  can  enjoy  the  world  no  longer,  and  must 
die,  he  is  willing  to  skulk  into  heaven,  that  he  may 
escape  the  just  punishment  of  sin.  But  let  him 
have  his  choice  of  three  things — heaven,  hell,  earth — 
and  he  will  choose  earth.  Yes,  he  would  rather 
have  this  life,  with  all  its  ills,  if  he  could  only  live 
here  forever.  If  he  desired  heaven,  for  its  own 
sake,  on  account  of  its  celestial  exercises  and  enjoy 
ments,  he  would  be  for  tasting  them  now — 

"The  holy  to  the  holiest  leads" — 

he  would  be  for  tasting  the  sweets  of  redeeming 
grace,  and  would  "break  off  his  sins  by  righteous 
ness,  and  his  iniquities  by  turning  to  the  Lord," 
now.  It  is  certain,  then,  that  the  wicked  have 
neither  an  expectation  nor  desire  o£  heaven;  "with 
out  God,  and  without  hope  in  the  world."  0,  you, 
who  are  living  without  hope,  how  can  you  continue 
thus?  How  can  you  think  of  dying  without  hope? 
How  can  you  continue  to  defy  that  God  whose  uri- 
tempered  arm  could  strike  you  deeper  into  hell,  in 
one  moment,  than  a  ship  could  sink  in  an  age? 
Awake,  awake!  Strike  your  rebellious  flag,  and  sin 
against  the  Lord  no  more. 

But  does  the  Christian  possess  this  anchor — this 


56     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR,'* 
..  ^ 

hope?  Ask  him,  "Hare  you  a  desire  to  get  to 
heaven?"  "Yes,  blessed  be  God!  if  there  is  one  de 
sire  that  rises  superior  to  every  other,  in  my  soul,  it 
is  to  reach  the  land  of  rest,  the  saint's  delight,  the 
heaven  prepared  for  all  the  faithful.  I  love  the  as 
sembly  of /God's  saints  here  on  earth,  and  the  holy 
exercises  of  his  house;  but  this  is  nothing  to  what 
I  anticipate,  in  that  happy  meeting,  when  all  the 
weather-beaten  fleet  of  God's  elect  shall. come  boom 
ing  in  from  the  north,  and  the  south,  and  the  east, 
and  the  west,  and  drop  anchor  in  heaven's  broad 
bay,  to  be  weighed  no  more,  forever  and  ever.  It 
is  for  this  I  sigh,  and  weep,  and  pray."  "Well, 
but  have  you  an  expectation?"  "Yes:  Jesus  says, 
'Where  I  am,  there  shall  my  servants  be.'  I  know 
that  I  am  his  servant:  I  serve  him  in  my  closet,  and 
in  the  congregation,  in  word  and  in  deed.  Again: 
he  hath  sent  forth  the  Spirit  of  adoption  in  my  heart, 
by  which  I  cry,  'Abba,  father.'  Seeing,  then,  that 
I  am  his  child — and  if  his  child,  his  heir,  an  heir  of 
God,  and  joint-heir  with  Jesus  Christ — my  expecta 
tion  is  strong;  yea,  even  to  a  full  assurance." 

Here,  then,  we*  see  that  an  evangelical  desire  and 
well-grounded  and  Scriptural  expectation,  constitute 
the  STOCK  and  FLUKE  of  our  anchor.  And  the  Chris 
tian  can  say,  "  This  hope  I  have." 

Happy,  happy  souls!  I  love  to  see  you  pressing 
on,  through  life's  stormy  seas,  carrying  your  sail 
according  to  the  gale.  And  when,  on  the  swelling 
wave  of  life's  last  affliction,  you  near  the  sacred 
shore,  and  it  may  be  necessary  to  stand  on  and  oflf, 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  57 

and  back  and  fill,,  for  a  season,  may  the  Lord  endue 
you  with  smiling  patience,  till  Christ  our  adorable 
pilot  will  come  on  board!  The  tide  will  rise;  the 
ministering  angels  will  man  the  windlass  well;  and 
here  you  will  go,  hand  over  hand,  square  after 
square,  pawl  after  pawl,  and  the  redeemed  soul  will 
enter  through  the  dock -gate  into  the  city,  and  so  be 
forever  with  the  Lord.  Then  the  happy  spirit  may 
sing, 

"Now  safely  moored,  no  storm  I  fear; 
My  God,  my  Christ,  my  heaven  is  here; 
And  all  the  joys  of  Paradise, 
In  holiness  and  beauty  rise. 
O,  then  my  soul,  with  folded  wing, 
In  thrilling  notes  of  joy  shall  sing, 
Glory  to  God." 

0,  the  blissful  hope  of  eternal  life!  and,  connected 
with  this,  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  and  the  glo 
rious  appearing  of  Jesus  Christ!  Yes,  many  of  our 
friends  are  gone;  but  "they  are  not  dead — blest 
thought! — they  are  only  gone  before."  True,  they 
have  retired,  as  it  were,  into  the  "watch  below;"  but, 
glory  to  God!  the  cold  and  dark  night  of  death  will 
soon  roll  over;  and  the  almighty  Captain  of  our  sal 
vation  will  give  the  order  to  "pipe  all  hands"  And 
0,  methinks  I  hear  it,  rattling  down  from  heaven, 
scraping  over  all  the  nerves  and  fibers  of  creation, 
and  thundering  down  to  hell,  "All  hands,  ahoy!  Do 
you  hear  the  news  there?  Lash  and  carry!  lash  and 
carry!  Bundle  up!  bundle  up!"  And,  now,  I  see 
the  tombstones  flying;  the  graves  throw  their  moldy 
bottoms  to  the  light;  old  ocean  groans  through  all 


58     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

her  deepest  caverns,  and  rolls  her  millions  to  the 
shore.  Alleluiah!  see  the  sacramental  host  man  the 
rattlings — making  for  the  maintop — climbing  the 
ladder  that  Jacob  saw!  Yes,  flying  home,  like  doves 
to  their  windows,  and  leaving  a  burning  world  be 
hind!  0,  blessed  HOPE! 

"Fixed  on  this  ground  will  I  remain, 

Though  my  heart  fail,  and  flesh  decay ; 
This  anchor  shall  my  soul  sustain, 
When  earth's  foundations  melt  away." 


The  Christian  sailor  fears  no  ill, 
Though  calms  befall,  or  storms  assail; 

His  deathless  hope  is  grounded  still 
In  Christ — the  Anchor  in  the  vail. 

When  seas  are  smooth,  and  skies  serene, 
And  prosperous  breezes  fill  his  sail, 

He  trusts  not  the  deceitful  scene ; 
But  casts  his  hope  within  the  vail. 

And  when  disastrous  clouds  arise, 
And  earthly  prospects  sink,  or  fail, 

He  plants  his  treasure  in  the  skies, 
Aid  hugs  the  Anchor  of  the  vail. 

And  when  the  gulf-stream  heaves  in  view, 
And  strikes  the  guilty  sinner  pale, 

He  boldly  shoots  the  current  through, 
To  reach  his  moorings  in  the  vail. 

When  nature  heaves  her  final  blast, 
The  pilgrim's  courage  will  not  fail ; 

He'll  hold  the  sov'reign  promise  fast, 
Of  Christ — the  Anchor  in  the  vail. 

For  well  the  Christian  sailor  knows 
That  hell  can  never  spring  a  gale, 
Which  could,  with  his  united  foes, 

"Riimrvvo  t.lio    An/»l^ftv  f\f   f.llA  vail 


Vhich  could,  with  his  united  foes 
Remove  the  Anchor  of  the  vail. 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  59 


SERMON  III. 
ALL   HANDS,    AHOY! 

THE  wicked  labor  much 

Beneath  corruption's  weight ; 
Yet  still,  at  every  port  they  touch, 

They  swell  their  guilty  freight. 

By  winds  and  waves  pursued, 

They  groan  beneath  their  woes ; 
And  yet,  in  every  latitude, 

The  crim'nal  cargo  grows. 

As  thus  their  sins  enlarge, 

Conviction>wells  the  load, 
Until  they  gladly  would  discharge 

Their  lading  overboard. 

But,  though  they  have  the  will, 

And  labor  to  be  blest, 
They  lack  the  gracious  power  still 

To  grasp  the  promised  rest. 

But  Jesus  sees  their  grief, 
And  smiles,  and  bids  them  come ; 

The  Gospel  sails  to  their  relief, 
And  tows  the  exiles  home. 

He  pities  their  complaints, 

And  takes  them  home  to  rest; 
And  makes  his  weather-beaten  saints 

With  him  forever  blest. 

"  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will 
give  you  rest,"  MATT,  xi,  28. 

ALTHOUGH  figures  are  well  calculated  to  illustrate 
the  mysterious  truths  of  Christianity,  yet  there  is  a 
possibility  of  the  mind  being  so  taken  up  and 


60     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

absorbed  by  the  figure  as  to  lose  the  moral,  or  truth, 
that  is  represented. 

A  minister  was  once  addressing  a  large  congrega 
tion,  in  one  of  the  principal  towns  of  Ohio,  and  was 
representing  the  case  of  a  sinner  who  is  well-nigh 
gone,  by  a  ship  bearing  down  on  a  lee-shore,  with 
all  sails  set.  Just  as  he  was  running  her  on  the 
very  point  of  destruction,  a  sailor  sprung  out  in  the 
aisle,  and  rushed  forward  in  much  confusion;  then 
suddenly  shrunk  back  to  his  seat,  apparently  much 
abashed.  A  gentleman,  meeting  him  in  the  street 
shortly  after,  inquired  into  the  cause  of  his  excite 
ment  at  the  late  meeting.  "  Why,  sir,"  said  he, 
"  the  minister  had  me  out  to  sea  again  before  I  knew 
it,  and  raised  a  thundering  storm.  Here  she  was,  all 
ready  to  strike  on  the  rocks.  Every  fellow  on  board 
stood,  gazing,  with  his  flippers  in  his  pockets.  What 
could  I  do  but  rush  forward,  to  let  go  the  fore-sheet? 
But  never  the  fore-sheet  could  I  find;  for  I  was  still  in 
the  meeting-house."  This  reminded  me  of  the  dog 
in  the  fable,  who,  in  swimming  over  a  clear  stream, 
with  a  bone  in  his  mouth,  saw  the  reflection  of  it  in 
the  water,  and,  making  an  unfortunate  snatch  at  the 
shadow,  lost  his  dinner.  It  is  generally  thought 
that  our  Savior,  in  this  text,  had  an  eye  to  a  yoke 
of  oxen,  drawing  an  extraordinary  load.  It  is 
highly  probable  that  he  had.  But  the  figure  appears 
to  us  of  an  amphibious  character,  and  reminds  us  of 
the  angel,  which  was  seen  by  John,  with  one  foot  on 
the  land,  and  one  on  the  sea.  The  phrase  is  as  cur 
rent  on  the  sea  as  on  the  land.  A  ship  is  said  to 


LOBRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  61 

labor  when  rolling  and  pitching  in  a  heavy  and  tem 
pestuous  sea.  Under  some  circumstances,  this  is 
dangerous,  and  always  disagreeable,  occasioning 
much  wear  and  tear  of  the  sails  and  rigging.  But 
the  case  is  a  great  deal  worse,  when,  in  addition  to 
this  hard  "labor,"  the  ship  is  "heavy  laden." 
This  was  the  case  with  the  vessel  in  which  Paul 
sailed  for  Rome,  and  which  was  finally  cast  away. 
They  were  under  the  necessity  of  throwing  much 
of  their  cargo  overboard.  To  labor  and  to  be  heavy 
laden  is  indicative  of  distress;  but, 

I.  Who  are  they  to  whom  the  text  is  addressed? 

1.  The  Jews.  Their  religion  was  full  of  laborious 
and  costly  rites  and  ceremonies.  When  our  Lord  saw 
some  dragging  their  unwilling  victims  to  the  slaugh 
ter;  others  bearing  heavy  piles  of  fuel  to  the  altar; 
when  he  looked  upon  the  toiling,  groaning,  sweating 
multitude,  his  bosom,  doubtless,  swelled  with  com 
passion,  and  he  exclaimed,  in  the  language  of  the 
text,  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  As  much 
as  though  he  had  said,  "  Although  it  has  been  neces 
sary,  in  the  Divine  Avisdom,  for  you  to  have  observed 
all  these  ceremonies  in  time  past,  yet  the  true  light  is 
now  about  to  shine.  The  eternal  Word,  the  Son  of 
God,  has  come,  to  introduce  a  more  spiritual  dispen 
sation — a  dispensation  which  will  not  oblige  you  to 
travel  up  to  Jerusalem  to  seek  the  Lord,  but  will 
enable  you  to  worship  God,  in  spirit  and  in  truth, 
wherever  the  footsteps  of  divine  Power  are  im- ' 
pressed  on  the  Avorks  of  creation. 


62     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

2.  Although  the  Jewish  religion  is  not  now  bind 
ing  on  mankind,  yet,  in  consequence  of  our  errone 
ous  views  concerning  God,  ourselves,  and  things  ii 
general,  we  often  become  heavy  laden. 

All  men  have  an  abiding  thirst  for  happiness, 
composure  of  mind,  or  what  our  Lord  very  aptly 
calls  "rest;"  and  the  only  reason  why  they  do  not 
all  obtain  it  is,  because  they  are  seeking  for  it 
through  wrong  channels,  and  ways,  and  means, 
which  God  has  never  sanctioned. 

Look  at  that  man  who  is  seeking  for  happiness  in 
riches!  He  is  adding  ship  to  ship,  till  it  becomes  a 
matter  of  little  concern  to  him  which  way  the  wind 
blows;  for  he  has  vessels  sailing  to  every  point  in 
the  compass.  Ask  him -why  he  is  thus  "spreading 
his  arms,  like  seas,  to  grasp  in  all  the  shore."  If 
he  is  honest,  he  will  tell  you,  that  when  he  acquires 
a  certain  amount  of  wealth,  he  expects  to  find  hap 
piness — rest  of  mind.  But  does  the  history  of  man 
kind  afford  an  instance  where  one  has  been  made 
happy  by  the  accumulation  of  property?  No.  As 
the  riches  of  the  rich  man  increase,  the  trials  and 
vexations  of  this  life  multiply;  and  there  have  been 
instances  of  misers  perishing  on  their  heaps  of 
wealth,  and  dying  with  starvation.  And  while  the 
poor- allowanced  mariner  is  looking  up,  with  envy, 
to  the  merchant  in  whose  employ  he  sails,  if  he 
could  only  see  his  case  as  God  sees  it — if  he  could 
only  roll  one  tedious  night  upon  his  thorny  pillow — 
he  would  hug  his  moldering  biscuit  to  his  bosom, 
bless  God  for  his  sweet  hammock,  "fall  in  love  with 


LORKAIN'S  SEA-SEKMONS.  63 

poverty,  and  sinile  at  ruin."     He  "labors,"  and  is 
"heavy  laden." 

3.  Next,  view  the  man  who  is  all  athirst  for  honor 
and  fame.     Ask  him  whither  he  is  pressing  on  in 
his  ambitious  and  murderous  course.     He  will  say 
that  he  expects,  in  some  future  period,  when  he 
shall  have  weathered  the  fame  of  every  admiral 
who  has  embellished  the  pages  of  naval  heroism; 
when  he  shall  be  driving  his  triumphant  flag  through 
a  shattered  fleet,  or  returning  home  with  captured 
squadrons  in  his  wake,  amid  the  shouts  and  plaudits 
of  admiring  crowds,  he  will  drink  an  unmixed  cup 
of  happiness — he  will  find  rest  for  his  soul.     But  has 
happiness  ever  been  obtained  by  the  sword?     Not 
while  the  immortal  conscience  has    a   nerve   that 
almighty  Power  can  touch.     He  "labors,"  and  is 
"heavy  laden." 

4.  Again:  see  the  man  who  is  seeking  rest  in  sin 
ful  pleasures,  and  the  indulgence  of  unholy  passions! 
While  in  port,  he  spends  his  time  in  reveling,  in 
drunkenness,  in  chambering,  and  wantonness.     He 
will  say  that,  when  he  has  indulged  himself  to  a 
certain  extent,  he  will  then  be  happy.     But  is  it  so? 
See  him  at  midnight,  after  his  frolic  is  over,  stag 
gering  on  board,  two  sheets  in  the  wind,  and  the 
third  shivering!     He  is  angry  with  himself  and  every 
body  else.     As  he   tumbles  into  his  berth,  what 
means  that  heavy  groan,  that  wretched  sigh?     Do 
they  not  plainly  declare  that  the  man  "labors,"  and 
is  "heavy  laden?" 

5.  Those  who  have  never  heard  the  Gospel,  and 


64     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OH, 

are  enslaved  to  gross  idolatry,  are  heavy  laden. 
We  do  not  here  intend  to  inquire  into  what  will  be 
their  eternal  state;  but  when  we  look  at  their  bloody 
rites,  laborious  and  obscene  ceremonies,  we  must 
say  that,  as  far  as  even  this  life  is  concerned,  they 
are  grievously  burdened. 

6.  And,  last  of  all,  when  man  is  laid  under  divine 
convictions,  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  he  is  heavy  laden. 
We  are  born  under  the  intolerable  weight  of  human 
depravity;  and,  in  consequence  thereof,  are  continu 
ally  adding  actual  sin,  personal  transgression, 
through  all  the  voyage  of  life.  As  the  enterprising 
whaler  adds  to  her  store  of  oil  and  swells  her  cargo 
in  every  latitude,  so  the  sinner  is  continually  storing 
away  wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath.  When  the 
gale  of  conviction  overtakes  him,  and  the  storm  is 
up,  awakened  to  a  sense  -of  his  awful  situation,  he 
begins  to  feel,  most  sensibly,  the  enormous  weight 
of  unpardoned  sin.  See  him  groaning,  reeling, 
staggering  under  a  heavy  press  of  sin;  swept  on 
%y  the  strong  current  of  nature's  stream;  hell  roar 
ing  to  leeward;  the  devil  struggling  with  his  guard 
ian  angel  for  the  helm;  the  law  of  God  to  windward, 
bearing  down  under  a  heavy  cloud  of  sail,  not 
mounted  with  common  metal,  but  with  ten  eternal- 
pounders,  which  belch  out,  at  every  flash,  "Cursed 
is  every  one  who  continueth  not  in  all  things  written 
in  the  book  of  the  law  to  do  them!"  He  labors  in 
a  sea  of  sorrow,  amid  foaming  billows  of  Divine 
wrath.  But  see!  the  everlasting  Gospel  heaves  in 
sight;  the  hawser  of  salvation  is  coming;  the  silver 


LOBRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  65 

trumpet  of  the  Lord  is  heard,  "  Come  unto  me,  all 
ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give 
you  rest!" 

II.  What  is  it  which  so  universally  disqualifies 
men  for  the  rest  which  our  Savior  proffers?  It  is 
sin,  and  sin  only,  that  makes  men  miserable  here. 
The  all-wise  God  never  intended  that  men  should 
be  happy  in  their  sins.  All  the  wisdom  in  the  world 
can  not  make  them  so.  We  might  adduce  Solomon 
as  an  example.  He  was  wiser  than  all  men  in  his 
day.  He  gave  full  latitude  to  his  passions,  and 
scudded  far  away  from  God.  He  spread  all  his 
sails,  and  took  a  wondrous  cruise,  and  "  sounded 
every  depth  and  shoal  of  sin."  But  at  every  sound 
ing,  at  every -heave  of  the  lead,  he  cried  out,  "  Van 
ity  of  vanities;  all  is  vanity,  and  vexation  of  spirit!" 
And,  after  all  his  traverse-sailing,  and  boxing  of  the 
compass,  he  arrived  only  at  this:  "To  fear  God 
and  keep  his  commandments  is  the  whole  duty  of 
man." 

Honor  can  not  make  us  happy.  Look  at  Haman! 
This  man  arrived  at  the  highest  pinnacle  of  honor 
he  could  obtain,  without  dethroning  his  king;  but 
still  he  was  unhappy.  And  what  was  the  matter? 
He  could  not  have  rest,  because  poor  Mordecai  sat 
in  the  king's  gate,  and  would  not  douse  his  tar 
paulin  as  he  passed  by. 

Riches  can  not  give  us  rest.     See  the  rich  fool! 

He  rolled  in  pleasure  and  grandeur;  but  was  still 

uneasy.     His  mind  was  tortured  in  inventing  new 

amusements.     "What  shall  I  do?"  said  he;  "I  will 

5 


66     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

pull  down  my  barns,  and  build  greater,  and  will  say 
to  my  soul,  Eat,  drink,  and  be  merry."  But  just 
as  he  began  to  anticipate  some  happiness  in  this  way, 
the  awful  voice  of  God  arrests  him,  saying,  "Thou 
fool!  this  night  shall  thy  soul  be  required  of  thee. 
Then  whose  shall  these  things  be?"  There  is  no 
rest  to  the  wicked,  saith  my  God.  Their  minds  are 
like  the  tempest-tossed  lake,  whose  waters  cast  up 
mire  and  dirt. 

III.  The  rest  which  our  Lord  proposes,  exists,  in 
its  lowest  sense,  in  justification — the  remission,  or 
forgiveness  of  all  our  past  sins.  This  is  a  full  de 
liverance  from  the  guilt  and  condemnation  of  sin, 
through  the  blood  and  merits  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  The  sinner  has  nothing  to  recommend  him 
to  God,  and  nothing  to  plead  but  his  own  destitution 
and  helplessness,  on  one  hand,  and  the  all-sufficient 
atonement  of  Christ,  on  the  other.  But  while  thus 
pleading,  in  all  the  agony  of  faith  and  prayer,  the 
Lord  hears  in  heaven,  and  answers  on  earth:  and 
peace,  love,  and  joy  flow  into  the  troubled  soul, 
and  give  the  mourner  rest — a  rest  from  all  the  an 
guish  and  labor  connected  with  guilt  and  condemna 
tion.  The  man  feels  that  this  is  an  astonishing  boon 
of  heaven.  His  soul  within  him  is  like  the  chariot 
of  Aminadab.  He  feels  like  taking  up  the  song  of 
Israel,  "The  Lord  God  has  triumphed  most  glori 
ously.  The  horse  and  his  rider  are  thrown  into  the 
sea."  But  occasional  uprisings  of  the  carnal  mind, 
and  the  stirrings  of  remaining  roots  of  bitterness, 
often  interrupt  "the  feast  of  love  and  flow  of  soul," 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  67 

and  admonish  us  that  there  is  still  a  more  excellent 
rest  remaining  for  the  children  of  God,  even  in  this 
life.  This  is  found  in  the  entire  sanctification  of  the 
whole  man.  The  poet  calls  it 

"The  rest  where  pure  enjoyment  reigns, 

And  God  is  loved  alone ; 
A  rest  where  all  our  heart's  desire 

Is  fixed  on  things  above ; 
Where  sin,  and  guilt,  and  fear  expire, 

Cast  out  by  perfect  love." 

Full  sanctification  gives  us  rest  from  all  the  ills 
and  troubles  of  moral  pollution,  but  does  not  deliver 
us  from  all  the  natural  evils  which  sin  has  introduced 
into  the  world.  Holiness  does  not  rebuke  the  ragings 
of  a  fever,  or  mitigate  the  ravages  of  a  storm.  The 
sanctified  Christian  may  have  outward  afflictions, 
arising  from  the  conduct  of  disobedient  children  or 
profligate  neighbors;  but  in  the  midst  of  outward 
storms,  he  has  sweet  peace  in  his  own  soul.  Perfect 
rest,  then,  is  not  a  growth  of  nature's  garden;  but, 
thank  God!  there  is  rest  in  heaven;  and  this,  too,  is 
embraced  in  the  promise  of  the  text,  "I  will  give 
you  rest"  Yes,  there  will  be  no  deceitful  world,  no 
conflicting  flesh,  no  tempting  devil.  There  the  wick 
ed  will  cease  to  trouble.  There  the  weary  will  be 
at  rest.  There  the  pious  captain  will  meet  his  godly 
crew.  No  more  storms,  no  more  shipwrecks,  no 
more  pirates!  for,  glory  be  to  God!  the  Bible  says, 
"There  shall  be  no  more  sea." 

"There  all  the  ship's  company  meet, 

Who  sailed  with  the  Savior  beneath ; 
And,  shouting,  each  other  they  greet, 
And  triumph  o'er  sin,  hell,  and  death. 


68     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

The  voyage  of  life's  at  an  end, 

The  mortal  affliction  is  past : 
The  rest  that  in  heaven  they  spend, 

Forever  and  ever  shall  last." 

But  it  is  in  the  rest  of  sanctification  that  Christians 
realize  that  his  yoke  is  easy  and  his  burden  light. 
But  it  may  be  asked  what  makes  his  yoke  easy  and 
his  burden  light?  Some,  we  fear,  misunderstand 
this;  especially  those  who  contend  that  the  easiness 
of  the  yoke  and  the  lightness  of  the  burden  consist 
in  the  abrogation  of  the  law.  They  say,  that,  as 
Christ  has  observed  the  whole  law,  and  made  it  hon 
orable,  his  obedience  will  be  imputed  to  his  people, 
in  the  great  day  of  the  Lord.  And  if  Christ  has 
released  his  people  from  obligation  to  the  law,  is  not 
his  yoke  easy  and  his  burden  light?  Yes,  indeed, 
if  this  is  so,  both  the  yoke  and  burden  are  lighter 
than  a  moon -beam;  for,  in  that  case,  there  is  no 
yoke — no  burden  at  all.  But  it  is  not  a  fact,  that 
our  Lord  observed  all  the  moral  obligations  of  men. 
There  are  several  relations,  connected  with  human 
ity,  in  which  Christ  never  stood.  He  never  sus 
tained  the  relation  of  a  father,  a  husband,  a  magis 
trate;  and,  consequently,  never  performed  the  duties 
of  such  relations.  And  many  have  sinned,  in  these 
offices,  enough  to  sink  their  souls  to  everlasting  ruin. 
The  garment,  then,  of  our  Savior's  obedience,  is  too 
scant  for  the  sinner  to  wrap  himself  in..  But  again: 
the  moral  law  is  the  judgment  of  the  eternal  God, 
concerning  right  and  wrong,  as  far  as  man  is  con 
cerned;  and,  as  God  is  immutable — the  same  to-day, 
Testerday,  and  forever — it  must  be  his  judgment  to 


.< 

LOERAIK'S  SEA-SERMONS.  69 

all  eternity;  therefore,  it  can  not  be  abolished.  The 
righteousness  of  Christ  is  his  death,  or  atonement; 
and  when  the  penitent  and  believing  sinner  presents 
this  as  his  only  trust — only  plea,  the  Lord  accepts 
his  offering,  pardons  his  sins,  and  regenerates  his 
soul.  This  brings  the  man  into  a  pleasing  conform 
ity  with  the  law  of  God.  The  enmity  of  the  carnal 
mind  is  thus  destroyed.  The  soul  being  fully  sanc 
tified  and  renewed  in  the  image  of  God,  sweetly 
realizes  that  the  service  of  the  Lord  is  perfect  free 
dom — his  yoke  is  easy  and  his  burden  light. 

IV.  But  how  shall  the  sinner  come  to  Christ? 
We  give  the  old  and  unchangeable  answer:  by  faith. 
There  are  many  who  ridicule  the  doctrine  of  salva 
tion  through  faith,  and  say  that  it  is  more  reasonable 
to  preach  salvation  by  works.  And  yet  we  are  per 
suaded,  that  if  a  minister  should  preach  salvation 
without  faith,  he  would  be  still  more  ridiculous.  If 
he  should  tell  his  hearers,  that  it  is  their  duty  to 
pray  to  God,  the  infidel  might  say,  "But  I  do  not 
believe  there  is  a  God."  The  preacher  would  have 
to  answer,  "Never  mind  that,  you  must  pray  to 
him.  We  do  not  require  you  to  believe  at  all." 
But  the  infidel  answers,  "There  are  two  things  that 
must  necessarily  precede  my  prayer.  First,  I  must 
believe  that  God  is;  then  I  must  believe  that  'he  is 
a  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently  seek  him.'  "  This 
would  bring  us  back  on  the  old  Bible  ground.  Who 
does  not  see  that  faith  is  necessarily  the  spring  of 
all  action?  A  common  faith  is  necessary  to  all  effort 
in  our  temporal  and  worldly  concerns.  Why  does 


70     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CBUISEB;  OK, 

the  merchant  lay  out  his  money,  and  go  to  so  much 
labor  and  pains  to  collect  his  produce,  and  to  freight 
his  ship,  and  send  her  to  distant  lands?  Would  he 
do  so,  unless  he  first  believed  that,  by  so  doing,  he 
would  realize  a  handsome  profit?  The  sailor,  in  hie 
employment,  is  moved  by  the  same  impetus.  He 
would  not  ship  on  board,  with  the  certain  prospect 
of  enduring  much  hardship,  and  running  great  risk, 
unless  he  believed  that  he  would  be  richly  paid  for 
all  his  trouble.  Take  away  this  confidence,  which 
always  precedes  human  acts,  and  the  whole  world 
is  paralyzed.  Then,  if  a  common  faith  is  necessary 
to  the  performance  of  all  our  ordinary  duties,  why 
should  it  be  thought  incredible  that  an  extraordinary 
faith  is  necessary  in  order  to  obtain  the  extraordina 
ry  blessing  of  eternal  salvation? 

While  it  is  our  duty  to  persuade  some  to  believe, 
it  is  equally  our  work  to  convince  other  very  com 
placent  souls  that  they  do  not  believe.  There  are 
some  who  have  been  raised  under  religious  influen 
ces,  W!M>  fancy  that  they  are  true  believers  hi  Christ, 
although  they  are  living  in  the  constant  commission 
of  sin.  They  repeat  over  the  creed,  and  say,  "We 
believe  in  God,  the  Father  Almighty,  maker  of  heav 
en  and  earth;  and  in  Jesus  Christ,  his  only -begotten 
Son,"  etc.;  but  in  their  daily  walk  and  conversation 
they  deny  the  Savior.  But  do  you  see  that  ship  tha. 
is  lost  on  the  high  seas  yonder?  The  captain  is 
without  a  compass,  chart,  or  any  instrument  of  nav 
igation — he  is  indisputably  lost.  A  ship  heaves  in 
sight,  and  her  commander  hails  him,  and  warns  him 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  71 

of  his  danger.  He  tells  him  he  is  standing  on  a 
dangerous  reef,  and  r that,  if  he  does  not  alter  his 
course,  in  two  hours  more  he  will  be  irrecoverably 
lost.  The  bewildered  captain  smiles,  and  thanks 
him  for  his  information,  and  says  he  puts  the  most 
unbounded  faith  in  his  word — -"All  this  I  steadfastly 
believe.''  But  how  does  he  act?  Does  he  call  all 
hands,  and  put  the  ship  about?  Does  he  even  short 
en  sail,  to  prolong  his  time?  No;  but  he  crowds 
canvas;  outs  with  his  royals,  sky-scrapers,  moon- 
rakers,  star-dashers,  and  heaven-disturbers;  and 
away  he  goes,  with  a  whistling  breeze  and  a  roaring- 
wake,  and  never  begins  to  look  serious  till  the  dread 
ful  breakers  arrest  her  in  her  wild  career,  and 

"In  loose  fragments,  fling  her  floating  round." 

Now,  can  we  think  that  this  man  believed  in  the 
warning  that  was  given?  In  like  manner,  there  are 
many  souls  lost  on  the  sea  of  human  life.  The  Lord 
passes  by,  and,  through  his  Holy  Spirit,  and  by  his 
word  and  ministers,  he  warns  them  of  their  danger. 
He  thunders  in  their  ears,  that  there  are  breakers — 
awful  breakers,  ahead;  that  they  are  running  fast  on 
the  iron-bound  coast  of  damnation.  With  all  the 
earnestness  of  a  crucified  Savior,  he  exhorts  them 
to  heave  in  stays,  to  put  about  and  beat  off,  and 
save  their  shattered  barks,  richly  laden  with  immor 
tal  and  deathless  spirits.  But  what  is  their  conduct? 
They  look  up  to  heaven,  with  a  provoking  smile. 
They  say  that  they  believe  the  Gospel;  they  believe 
in  Christ,  in  death,  hell,  and  judgment;  and  yet 
they  crowd  all  sail,  and  away  they  drive,  as  though 


72     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED   CBUISEK;  OK, 

greedy  of  eternal  ruin,  and  never  begin  to  look 
serious  till  the  loud  breakers  of  hell  and  the  awful 
surges  of  damnation  awaken  them  to  a  sense  of 
their  eternal  loss.  O,  ye  immortal  spirits!  whither 
are  ye  bound?  Luff,  men,  luff!  Luff  up,  and 
weather  hell!  Your  lee-sheets  are  all  on  fire! 
Hard-a-lee,  there!  hard-a-lee!  Come  about!  come 
about!  And  it  may  be  that,  by  hard  beating,  by 
many  a  long  leg  and  short  one,  you  may,  at  last, 
escape  the  wide-spread  ruin,  and  your  poor,  shat 
tered  barks  reach  the  port  above.  Do  I  hear  some 
trembling  sinner  say,  "I  have  not  room  to  wear, 
and  I  am  afraid  my  wretched  soul  will  miss  stays?" 
Then,  by  the  grace  of  God,  club-haul  her;  for  it 
would  be  better  to  enter  into  life  without  an  anchor, 
and  without  a  cable,  than  for  ship  and  cargo,  hull 
and  rigging,  soul  and  body,  to  plunge  into  a  gulf  of 
liquid  fire,  where  the  wrath  of  God  will  thunder 
down  in  one  eternal  storm.  Yes;  make  an  unpre 
meditated  surrender,  an  unconditional  consecration, 
to  God  of  all  that  you  have  and  are. 
V.  The  invitation  is  to  all. 

1.  To  all,  as  it  respects  quantity.     "He  was  a 
propitiation  for  our  sins,  and  not  for  ours  only,  but 
for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world."     "He  gave  him 
self  a  ransom  for  all,  to  be  testified  in  due  time." 
"The  Spirit   and  the  bride  say,   Come.     Let  him 
that  heareth  say,  Come.     Let  him  that  is  athirst 
come;  and  whosoever  will,  let  him  cerue  and  partake 
of  the  water  of  life  freely." 

2.  All,  as  "it  regards  quality.     There  are  none  so 


LORBAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  73 

base,  none  so  vile,  but  that  they  may  come,  in  the 
exercise  of  living  faith,  to  Christ,  and  live.  The 
Lord  says,  "Come,  let  us  reason  together,  and, 
though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  I  will  make  them 
white  as  wool."  We  often  meet  with  striking  in 
stances  of  such  great  salvation. 

Many  years  since,  there  was  a  certain  character 
who  had,  from  his  boyhood,  been  associated  with 
the  Barratarian  robbers — a  nest  of  pirates  who,  at 
that  time,  infested  the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi 
river.  After  the  band  was  dispersed,  he  opened  a 
tippling  shop  in  one  of  our  large  southern  towns, 
where,  in  a  quarrel  with  one  of  his  companions,  he 
presented  a  pistol,  and  blew  out  his  brains.  He  was 
immediately  hurried  before  a  court,  was  tried,  found 
guilty,  and  condemned  to  be  hanged.  Several  of 
the  religious  citizens  attended  daily  at  his  prison,  to 
instruct  him,  and  to  pray  for  him.  They  found  him 
deplorably  ignorant  in  religious  matters.  He  de 
clared  that,  in  his  youth,  he  had  been  cut  off  from 
all  advantages;  and  that,  although  he  had  often 
heard  the  name  of  Christ  mingled  with  the  profanity 
of  his  shipmates,  yet  he  had  never  before  had  any 
correct  idea  of  his  character,  life,  death,  or  his  mis 
sion  in  this  world.  At  first  he  treated  the  services 
of  his  religious  visitors  with  contempt.  They,  how 
ever,  persevered  in  their  attentions,  till  he  began  to 
pay  some  little  regard  to  their  admonitions.  On  the 
morning  of  the  day  of  execution,  they  attended  the 
prison  for  the  last  time.  The  jailer  advised  them 
not  to  see  the  prisoner  again.  He  said  that,  on  the 


74,     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISEK;  OB, 

preceding  night,  he  had  broke  loose  in  the  most 
horrid  blasphemy,  shouting  and  praising  God  till 
the  prisoners  in  the  remotest  dungeons  were  awak 
ened  by  his  mockery.  The  friends,  however,  insisted 
on  seeing  him.  When  they  opened  the  door  of  his 
cell,  the  prisoner  stood  before  them,  bathed  in  tears, 
and  all  the  meekness  of  Christianity  seemed  stamped 
upon  his  face.  He  began  to  tell  what  great  things 
God  had  done  for  him.  He  observed  that,  after 
they  had  left  him  on  the  preceding  evening,  all  at 
once  an  awful  power  of  darkness  seemed  to  rest 
upon  him.  He  could  find  no  ease,  either  while 
sitting  or  walking.  But  he  continued  to  run  round 
his  little  dungeon,  and  tried  to  pray;  but  it  seemed 
as  if  the  heavens  were  brass.  At  last  he  fell  down 
in  a  corner  of  his  room;  his  mouth  was  opened,  and 
he  mightily  called  on  the  Lord  to  have  mercy  upon 
him;  and  "there,"  said  he,  "it  seemed  as  if  the 
whole  world  was  rolled  from  my  breast,  and  I  was 
filled  with  great  peace  and  joy,  so  that  I  have 
praised  God  all  night,  and  to-day  I  feel  prepared  for 
the  last  conflict." 

I  was  once  acquainted  with  a  sailor,  by  the  name 
of  Johu.  He  followed  the  seas  from  his  childhood, 
and  served  a  long  time  on  board  a  British  man-of- 
war.  They  had,  in  that  day,  no  chaplain  and  no 
Bibles  on  board;  consequently,  John  was  very  igno 
rant  and  very  wicked.  He  had  often  been  exposed 
to  the  lash;  but,  on  account  of  his  ability  as  a  sea 
man,  he  was  promoted  to  captain  of  the  foretop. 
It  was  after  his  conversion  that  I  heard  him  say,  in 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SEBMONS.  75 

a  love-feast,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  that,  while  so 
desperately  wicked,  the  ship  in  which  he  was  had 
a  hot  engagement  with  a  French  frigate.  When 
orders  were  given  for  them  to  board,  he  was  among 
the  first  who  stood  on  the  enemy's  deck.  One  of 
her  crew  fell  on  his  knees  before  him,  and  begged 
him,  for  Christ's  sake,  to  show  him  quarters;  "  but," 
said  he,  "alas!  alas!  poor  John  knew  nothing  about 
Christ;  and  while  he  was  in  the  act  of  craving  my 
mercy,  I  drove  a  boarding-pike  into  his  breast."  It 
may  be  asked,  "How  did  such  a  wicked  wretch 
obtain  rest?"  We  answer,  by  coming  to  Christ. 
He  subsequently  deserted  his  Majesty's  service,  and 
landed  in  America.  Apprehensive  that  he  would  be 
retaken,  he  made  his  way  to  Ohio.  There  he  first 
heard  of  a  camp  meeting;  and,  moved  by  curiosity, 
he  found  his  way  to  the  ground.  After  wandering 
around  the  outposts  for  some  time,  viewing  things 
which  were  truly  strange  to  him,  his  attention  was 
drawn  by  the  exercises  going  on  at  the  altar.  He 
drew  nigh,  and,  for  some  time,  leaned  against  a  sap 
ling,  listening  to  the  services;  and,  while  a  pious 
girl  was  pouring  out  her  prayers  for  the  mourners, 
a  blast  of  Divine  conviction  struck  poor  John,  and, 
before  he  had  time  or  thought  to  weather  his  helm 
and  scud,  as  too  many  do,  he  was  down  on  his 
beam  ends,  crying  for  mercy.  Yes;  and  he  never 
ceased,  till  the  Lord  had  mercy  upon  him.  Here 
was  a  poor  sinner,  who  had  fought  through  many  a 
battle,  who  had  never  shed  a  tear  of  penitence  or 
sympathy  before,  made  to  weep  over  the  sins  of  his 


1&     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

misspent  life.  "Sometimes,  when  lashed  to  the 
grating,"  said  he,  "  I  wept  with  anger,  and  because 
I  could  not  be  revenged  on  my  cruel  officers;  but 
never  before  had  I  wept  over  my  sins."  He  is  now, 
I  trust,  a  tender-hearted  Christian,  and  will  finish 
his  course,  mourning  over  his  errors  past.  Let  none 
say  that  the  Gospel  holds  out  encouragement  for  us 
to  continue  in  sin,  that  grace  may  abound.  For  the 
day  of  eternity  only  can  show  how  much  religious 
peace  in  this  life,  and  how  much  glory  in  the  life  to 
come,  will  be  lost  by  delaying  the  day  of  our  return 
to  God.  It  is  one  thing  to  be  merely  saved,  and 
another  thing  to  be  saved  with  God's  uttermost  sal 
vation.  We  should  look  upon  religion,  not  as  some 
thing  that  is  designed  to  save  us  from  hell  only,  but 
as  something  that  will  make  and  keep  us  indescrib 
ably  happy  in  this  world.  In  the  light  of  the  Scrip 
tures,  we  can  not  believe  that  those  who  have  dis 
tinguished  themselves  by  sin,  and  have  become  con 
verted,  will  have  as  bright  a  crown  as  those  who 
have  turned  to  God  in  early  life,  and  have  served 
him  through  the  most  of  their  days;  but  it  is  a  bound 
less  mercy  that  they  can  be  saved  at  all.  Their 
souls  have  escaped,  as  a  bird  out  of  the  snare  of 
the  fowler;  the  snare  is  broken,  and  they  have 
escaped.  And  we  rejoice  in  the  glorious  truth,  that 
our  Gospel  can  save  all  who  come  to  Christ;  and 
that  it  is  the  blessed  privilege  of  all  the  ministers  of 
Jesus  to  exclaim,  through  the  silver  trumpet  of  the 
Gospel,  "  All  hands,  ahoy!  Do  you  hear  the  news 
there? — the  glorious  news  that  Jesus  Christ  came 


LOBEAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  77 

into  the  world  to  save  sinners — the  chief  of  sinners — 
all  sinners?"  When  we  call  all  hands,  at  sea,  what 
do  we  mean?  Why,  we  mean  all;  officers  and 
men;  the  starboard  watch  and  larboard  watch; 
cook  and  cabin-boy;  every  mother's  son,  who  can 
crack  a  biscuit;  all  have  to  bundle  up.  And  when 
the  Lord  calls  on  all  men  to  come,  he  does  not 
mean  a  part,  but  he  means  all — the  king  as  well  as 
the  beggar. 

"  Sent  by  iny  Lord,  on  you  I  call; 
The  invitation  is  to  all. 
Come,  all  the  world;  come,  sinner,  thou; 
All  things  in  Christ  are  ready  now." 

But,  alas!  what  strange  infatuation  possesses  the 
minds  of  many!  Although  the  history  of  the  world 
does  not  furnish  a  single  instance  of  a  man  who  has 
found  rest  in  the  pursuit  of  riches,  honor,  or  pleas 
ure,  yet  thousands  are  seeking  happiness  in  these 
things,  each  expecting  that  he  will  be  the  fortunate 
man  who  shall  be  more  successful  than  all  his  pred 
ecessors,  from  Adam  down.  0,  cruel  delusion  of 
the  devil!  But  it  may  be  asked,  "Have  any  found 
rest  in  Christ?"  Yes,  blessed  be  God!  they 
have  found  "the  soul's  calm  sunshine,  and  the 
heart-felt  joy."  Hundreds  of  sanctified  Christians 
are  living  witnesses  that  they  have  found  rest  from 
the  guilt,  the  power,  and  the  dominion  of  sin;  and 
millions  of  happy  souls  have  already  entered  into 
that  glorious  rest  which  remaineth  for  the  children 
of  God. 

"Eternity's  vast  ocean  lies  before  thee; 
Give  the  mind  sea-room ;  keep  it  wide  of  earth, 


78     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OB, 

That  rock  of  souls  immortal.    (Sit  thy  cord; 
Weigh  anchor;  spread  thy  sails;  call  every  wind; 
Eye  the  great  Pole-Star ;  make  the  land  of  rest." 

0,  come  to  Christ,  and  he  will  give  you  happi 
ness,  heaven,  REST! 


Sometimes,  by  tempests  driven ; 

Sometimes  by  calms  oppressed, 
We  groan  to  reach  that  haven, 

Where  weary  pilgrims  rest ; 

Where  Christ  our  souls  will  lighten 
Of  all  our  freight  of  woe ; 

Where  seas  will  cease  to  frighten; 
Where  storms  no  more  will  blow. 

A  broad,  celestial  river 

Our  glorious  God  will  be, 
Whose  streams  will  wind  forever 

Through  blest  eternity. 

No  gallant  ship  can  hower 

Upon  its  sacred  shores; 
And  galleys  have  no  power 

To  spread  their  martial  oars. 

The  Lord  himself  would  slacken 
Their  lanyards  at  a  blast, 

And  loosen  all  their  tackling 
About  their  quaking  masts. 

Their  courses  he  would  shiver ; 

Their  yards  and  booms  would  fail ; 
And,  on  that  peaceful  river, 

If  man-of-war  should  sail, 

Jehovah,  he  would  rake  her 
Of  rigging,  tack,  and  sheet ; 

For  Zion's  mighty  Maker 
Defends  his  royal  fleet. 

He  is  our  great  Lawgiver, 

Our  Captain,  Priest,  and  King; 

To  him  we  will  forever 
Eternal  praises  sing. 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  79 

Our  souls  he'll  fill  with  laughter ; 

Our  hulls  he  will  transform ; 
And  we'll  shout  forever  after, 

Above  the  final  storm. 


/ 

I 


80     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 


SERMON  IV. 

A  VOYAGE  TO  DAVY  JONES'S  LOCKER  AND 
BACK. 

DEEP  in  the  watery  world, 

A  poor  imprisoned  saint, 
Beneath  the  earth's  foundations  hurled, 

Poured  out  his  sad  complaint. 

"Thou,  Lord,  hast  cast  my  soul 

Beneath  the  briny  wave ; 
And  all  thy  heavy  billows  roll, 

High  o'er  my  living  grave. 

Earth's  pond'rous  pillars  spread 

Their  flinty  bars  around; 
And  sea-weeds  rumble  o'er  my  head, 

Where  plummets  never  sound. 

Yet,  here,  O,  Lord!  I  will 

Beneath  the  mountains  lay, 
And  think  upon  thy  temple  still, 

And  at  thy  altar  pray." 

The  Lord  puts  forth  his  hand, 

And  shakes  the  foaming  main ; 
He  drags  the  monster  to  the  strand, 

And  Jonah  breathes  again. 

Just  so  did  Christ  explore 

The  secret  halls  of  hell, 
And  drafted  the  tremendous  shore 

Of  Death's  remotest  cell. 

..- 

He  measured  every  wave; 
He  fathomed  every  part; 
And,  rising  conqueror  o'er  the  grave, 
He  gave  his  Church  the  chart. 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  81 

And  we  are  sinking  fast, 

Where  Jesus  sunk  before; 
But  Gabriel's  resurrection  blast, 

Will  roll  us  all  to  shore. 


"  So  the  shipmaster  came  to  him,  and  said  unto  him,  What  mean 
est  thou,  0,  sleeper?  Arise,  and  call  upon  thy  God,  if  so  be  that 
God  will  think  upon  us  that  we  perish  not,"  JONAH  i,  6. 

THE  case  of  Jonah  is  a  very  singular  one — such 
an  event  that  will  never  transpire  again,  while  the 
earth  bears  a  plant,  or  the  sea  rolls  its  waves.  We 
observe  this,  because  seamen  have  sometimes,  influ 
enced  by  a  strange  superstition,  been  led  to  act  in  a 
manner  quite  contrary  to  the  general  character  which 
they  bear,  in  regard  to  generosity  and  hospitality. 
Some  are  unwilling  to  sail  in  a  vessel  which  is  carry 
ing  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  or  a  missionary  of  the 
cross.  And  all  the  storms  and  disasters  befalling 
them,  are  often  attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  hav 
ing  such  characters  on  board.  The  following  cir 
cumstance,  recorded  in  the  Life  of  Dr.  Coke,  a  Meth 
odist  bishop  and  missionary,  will  present  a  sample 
of  this  superstition: 

"It  was  during  the  utmost  violence  of  a  tempest, 
while  accomplishing  the  perilous  voyage,  that  Dr. 
Coke  and  his  associates  addressed  themselves  to  God, 
in  prayer,  for  the  preservation  of  the  ship,  and  the 
lives  of  all  who  were  on  board.  The  captain,  instead 
of  approving  their  piety,  or  joining  in  their  devotions, 
became  visibly  agitated,  and  betrayed  symptoms  of 
an  approaching  storm  within.  First,  he  paraded  the 
decks,  muttering,  in  a  species  of  audible  whisper, 


82    THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OB, 

'We  have  a  Jonah  on  board!  we  have  a  Jonah  on 
board!'  It  was  natural  for  him  to  think  that  a 
Jonah's  conduct  deserved  a  Jonah's  fate.  In  this 
condition  he  continued,  till  his  fears  and  superstitions 
had  roused  him  up  to  such  a  state  of  frenzy,  that 
he  entered  the  Doctor's  cabin,  and,  seizing  his  books 
and  papers,  threw  them  immediately  into  the  sea. 
He  was  about  to  proceed  farther;  but  on  seizing  the 
Jonah,  he  satiated  his  vengeance  by  shaking  him 
several  times  with  angry  violence,  and  by  giving 
loose  to  his  passion  in  expressions  of  horrible  impre 
cations.  He  committed  no  further  personal  outrage; 
but,  on  retiring,  swore  that  if  ever  the  Doctor  made 
another  prayer  on  board,  he  was  fully  resolved  to 
throw  him  into  the  sea,  as  he  had  thrown  his  papers." 

Mr.  Newton,  a  celebrated  English  minister,  was 
once  placed  in  very  dangerous  circumstances,  on  ac 
count  of  being  suspected  of  being  a  Jonah.  Indeed, 
many  have  been  barbarously  treated,  under  the  same 
accusation;  and,  we  doubt  not,  others  have  been 
sacrificed. 

We  think  it,  then,  of  some  consequence  to  show 
that  a  faithful  minister  of  Christ,  who,  under  his 
high  commission,  goes  forth  to  preach  the  Gospel  to 
the  nations,  bears  no  kind  of  resemblance  to  the  un 
fortunate  Jonah.  He  was  not  a  faithful,  but  disobe 
dient  prophet,  who  had  wandered  from  the  path  of 
duty,  and  was  not  sailing  in  the  service  of  the  Lord. 
He  was  not  bound  for  the  right  port.  The  Lord  had 
sent  him  to  foretell  the  destruction  of  Nineveh;  but 
he  arose  to  flee  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  We 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  83 

do  not  suppose  that  this  well-instructed  servant  of 
God  thought  that,  in  the  proper  sense,  he  could  fly 
from  the  presence  of  the  Almighty.  But  Jerusalem 
was  the  place  where  the  Lord  chose  to  reveal  him 
self  in  a  peculiar  manner.  There  his  glory  shone 
forth;  and  he  there  commissioned  his  ministers. 
And,  perhaps,  Jonah  supposed  that  if  he  would 
leave  the  sanctuary,  and  go  into  a  distant  land,  the 
Lord,  being  justly  offended,  would  transfer  the  com 
mission  to  some  more  faithful  prophet.  Accordingly, 
he  went  down  to  Joppa,  a  seaport  town  of  Palestine, 
and  found  a  ship  all  ready  to  sail  for  Tarshish,  the 
very  place  which  he  wished  to  go  to.  Now,  if  the 
Lord  had  sent  him  to  Tarshish,  he  might  have  looked 
on  this  as  a  very  favorable  providence;  but,  alas! 
God  was  not  now  in  all  his  thoughts.  He  was  bent 
on  rebellion.  He  took  passage,  paid  his  fare,  went 
on  board,  and  tumbled  into  his  berth.  Pray,  what 
resemblance  is  there  between  this  character  and  the 
pious  missionary  who  is  going  on  his  Master's  busi 
ness,  to  preach  a  crucified  Savior  to  a  fallen  world? 
I.  We  will  show  the  end  and  design  of  Jonah's 
sufferings.  If  the  Lord  had  only  designed  the  pun 
ishment  of  Jonah,  and  the  conversion  of  the  ship's 
company,  the  whole  affair  would  appear  inexplicable 
to  us;  seeing  that  the  Lord  possesses  such  a  variety 
of  means,  in  the  economy  of  his  providence  and 
grace,  to  have  effected  these  purposes  without  such 
a  miraculous  exhibition  of  his  power.  But  when  we 
reflect,  that  by  the  ordination  of  God,  Jonah  was  an 
illustrious  type  of  Christ,  we  at  once  acknowledge 


84     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

that  the  event  was  worthy  of  all  the  glorious  mira 
cles  connected  with  it. 

1.  Jonah  was  a  type  of  Christ,  in  his  atonement. 
The  prophet  did  in  no  sense  fly  the  presence  of  the 
Lord;  for  the  Lord  sent  out  into  the  sea  a  mighty 
tempest,  so  that  the  ship  was  overtaken,  and  was  in 
danger  of  being  cast  away.  Then  the  mariners  were 
afraid,  and  began  to  call  upon  their  gods.  It  is  prob 
able  that  the  crew  was  a  mixture  of  men  of  various 
nations,  and  they  had  a  variety  of  idols  on  board. 
It  was  also  customary,  in  those  days,  for  every  ves 
sel  to  be  placed  under  the  patronage  of  some  partic 
ular  god,  whose  image  she  generally  bore  as  a  figure 
head.  Thus  we  find  that  St.  Paul  sailed  from  Malta 
in  the  Castor  and  Pollux,  or,  as  it  is  expressed,  "in 
a  ship,  whose  sign  [or  figure-head]  was  the  Castor 
and  Pollux."  An  English  author  says,  on  this  sub 
ject,  "We,  who  profess  to  be  a  Christian  people, 
follow  the  same  heathenish  custom.  We  have  our 
ships  called  the  Jupiter,  the  Minerva,  the  Leda,  with 
a  multitude  of  demon  gods  and  goddesses;  so  that, 
were  ancient  heathens  to  visit  our  navy,  they  would 
be  led  to  suppose  that,  after  the  lapse  of  two  thou 
sand  years,  their  old  religion  is  unaltered." 

The  above  observation  was  made  in  regard  to  the 
British  navy.  We  are  gratified,  in  looking  over  the 
list  of  our  national  vessels,  to  find  that  this  example 
has  not  been  followed  in  a  single  instance  by  our 
government.  But  we  can  not  say  the  same  as  it 
respects  our  merchantmen.  The  heathen  mariners, 
however,  depended  principally  on  their  private  idols, 


LOKRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  85 

which  they  always  carried  with  them  on  their  voy 
ages.  And  may  not  their  zeal  in  this  matter  rise  up 
in  judgment  with  some  of  our  officers  and  sailors, 
who  can  go  to  sea  without  a  Bible  in  their  chests,  or 
the  wholesome  fear  of  God  in  their  hearts?  We 
find  the  crew,  in  the  extreme  anguish  of  their  souls, 
calling  on  their  idols,  while  Jonah,  who  was  the  sole 
cause  of  the  tempest,  was  lying  down  in  his  berth, 
fast  asleep. 

The  captain,  having  occasion  to  pass  through  the 
cabin,  or  steerage,  discovers  him,  and  addresses  him 
in  the  language  of  the  text:  "What  meanest  thou, 
0,  sleeper?  Arise,  and  call  upon  thy  God!"  It 
was  not  unusual  for  ancient  Pagans  to  admit  that 
sometimes  their  own  gods  might  fail,  while  help 
might  be  obtained  from  strange  deities.  And  the 
captain,  doubtless,  felt  that  they  needed  the  help  of 
all  the  gods  in  the  universe.  It  was  at  last  deter 
mined  to  cast  lots,  to  ascertain  who  was  the  cause 
of  this  disaster.  "And  the  lot  fell  upon  Jonah." 
Then  the  sailors  inquired  of  him  who  he  was,  and 
what  he  was — what  was  his  calling,  his  coun 
try,  his  religion,  etc.  And  when  he  told  them  that 
he  was  a  Hebrew,  and  a  prophet  of  the  true  God, 
who  made  the  heavens,  and  the  earth,  and  the  seas, 
and  the  fountains  of  water;  and,  particularly,  when 
he  informed  them  of  his  rebellious  conduct,  they 
were  exceedingly  alarmed,  and  said,  "  Why  hast 
thou  done  this?"  As  much  as  if  they  had  said, 
"You  are  acquainted  with  the  true  and  living  God, 
who  has  originated  all  things,  and  he  has  conde- 


86     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

scended  to  send  you  on  a  high  mission.  O,  how 
could  you  do  this  wicked  thing,  and  profanely  rebel 
against  him?"  What  a  cutting  reproof  was  this, 
coming  from  such  a  source!  They  naturally  sup 
posed  that,  as  he  was  so  well  acquainted  with  the 
cause  of  the  tempest,  he  would  be  able,  also,  to 
point  them  to  a  remedy.  "And  they  said  unto 
him,  What  shall  we  do  unto  thee,  that  the  sea  may 
be  calm  unto  us?  for  the  sea  wrought,  and  was  tem 
pestuous." 

Whatever  had  induced  the  prophet,  in  the  first 
instance,  to  disobey  God,  or  however  far  he  had 
wandered  from  the  path  of  duty,  we  find  him  at  last 
returning  to  a  sense  of  ministerial  feeling.  When 
he  looked  around  on  the  distressed  crew,  and  saw 
inevitable  destruction  gathering  around;  when  he  saw 
that  he  was  about  to  drag  them,  in  all  their  idolatry 
and  unpardoned  sins,  down  to  irrecoverable  ruin, 
his  bosom  once  more  glowed  with  the  compassionate 
flame  of  pastoral  care,  and  "he  said,  Take  me  up 
and  cast  me  into  the  sea;  so  shall  it  be  calm  unto 
you."  In  thus  benevolently  offering  up  himself  for 
the  temporal  salvation  of  the  crew,  he  presented  to 
the  world  a  lucid  shadow  of  the  voluntary  sacrifice 
of  our  Lord  and  Savior,  Jesus  Christ.  The  world, 
spiritually  considered,  was  in  a  worse  situation  than 
this  heathen  ship.  The  dark  clouds  of  Divine  ven 
geance  were  hovering  over  this  guilty  earth,  ready 
to  disgorge  their  magazines  of  wrath  upon  our  sin 
ful  race,  no  eye  to  pity,  no  arm  to  save,  when  a 
voice  of  sovereign  mercy  thrilled  through  the  por- 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  87 

tentous  gloom:  "Sacrifices  and  burnt-offerings  thou 
wouldst  not;  but  a  body  thou  hast  prepared  for  me. 
Then  said  I,  Lo,  I  come,  in  the  volume  of  the  book 
it  is  written  of  me,  to  do  thy  "will,  O,  God!"  Al 
though  our  Savior  was  not  the  cause  of  our  calami 
ties,  as  Jonah  was  the  cause  of  the  tempest,  yet  he 
offers  to  bear  the  blame  and  suffer  in  the  room  and 
stead  of  guilty  sinners.  He  was  made  sin  for  us, 
who  knew  no  sin,  that  we  might  be  made  the  right 
eousness  of  God  in  him.  He  was  wounded  for  our 
trangressions;  he  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities;  and 
with  his  stripes  we  are  healed.  He  has  not  only 
made  a  full  atonement  for  sin,  but,  in  so  doing,  has 
presented  to  the  world  the  brightest  evidence  of 
God's  love  to  man.  "In  this  has  God  commended 
his  love  toward  us,  in  that,  while  we  were  yet  sin 
ners,  Christ  died  for  us."  The  word  of  God  admits 
that  human  love  may  constrain  a  man  to  die  for  his 
friend.  There  have  been  a  few  instances  of  such 
strong  affection,  one  of  which  we  will  present  on 
this  occasion. 

A  Portuguese  expedition,  which  had  been  fitted 
out  for  the  East  Indies,  had  doubled  the  cape,  when 
a  ship,  which  had  separated  from  the  fleet,  unfortu 
nately  struck  on  a  reef  of  rocks,  which  had  not 
been  laid  down  in  any  chart.  It  was  a  dark  night, 
and  she  had  on  board  more  than  twelve  hundred 
souls.  The  pinnace  was  launched  immediately,  and 
the  captain,  with  nineteen  others,  jumped  in,  and, 
with  drawn  swords,  prevented  others  from  following, 
lest  they  should  founder.  Cutting  loose  from  the 


88     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

prayers  and  shrieks  of  the  despairing  passengers, 
they  put  off,  with  very  little  bread  and  water.  After 
enduring  many  afflictions,  for  several  days,  the  cap 
tain,  who  had  been  long  indisposed,  died.  In  order 
to  avoid  anarchy  and  confusion,  they  elected  another. 
As  soon  as  he  was  inducted  into  office,  he  proposed 
that,  inasmuch  as  they  had  but  little  provision,  and 
the  boat  was  very  much  crowded,  and  deeply  laden, 
they  should  cast  lots,  and  throw  every  fourth  man 
overboard.  This  was  agreed  to — the  crew  volun 
tarily  excusing  the  captain,  the  carpenter,  and  a 
priest;  the  captain,  for  fear  of  falling  into  disorder; 
the  carpenter,  to  repair  the  boat,  if  necessary;  and 
the  priest,  to  administer  comfort  to  the  dying;  for  it 
seems,  on  this  occasion,  they  did  not  count  him  a 
Jonah.  This  arrangement  left  sixteen  in  number, 
which  required  the  sacrifice  of  four  persons.  The 
first  three  victims  sunk  into  the  deep  like  lead,  and 
quietly  submitted  to  their  doom.  When  they  were 
about  to  lay  hold  on  the  fourth,  who  was  a  Portu 
guese  merchant  of  some  note,  a  younger  brother 
rushed  forward  and  clasped  him  in  his  arms,  and 
insisted  on  dying  in'  his  stead.  The  elder  brother, 
on  his  part,  obstinately  refused,  and,  in  a  very 
tender  and  affectionate  manner,  reminded  the  youth 
that  the  finger  of  Heaven  had  pointed  him  out  as 
the  proper  victim;  and  that,  as  it  regarded  himself, 
he  was  getting  old,  and,  even  if  he  should  survive 
this  calamity,  he  had  not  many  days  to  enjoy  in 
this  world.  "-But  you,"  said  he,  addressing  the 
weeping  youth,  "are  in  the  morning  of  life,  and,  if 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMOKS.  89 

you  should  reach  the  land,  may  yet  see  many  happy 
days  in  this  world."  The  young  man  argued  that 
he  stood  entirely  unconnected  in  life,  while  his 
brother  had  a  loving  wife  and  tender  children,  who 
would  be  looking  out  for  his  return.  The  fraternal 
struggle  became  more  and  more  afflicting  to  the 
crew,  till,  in  order  to  relieve  them  from  their  painful 
position,  the  elder  brother  yielded  the  point.  The 
young  man  was  thrown  into  the  sea. 

It  is  said,  "Scarcely  for  a  righteous  man  will  one 
die."  This  implies  that  such  cases  are  scarce — few 
and  far  between.  And,  even  when  they  occur,  there 
is  a  mighty  struggle  between  friendship  and  self- 
interest;  and  so  it  was  in  this  case.  The  youth  was 
a  very  expert  and  practiced  swimmer,  and  an  in 
stinctive  love  of  life  led  him  to  follow  the  boat  for 
some  distance;  and  when  he  felt  his  vital  energy 
giving  way,  he  made  a  desperate  rush,  and  grasped 
the  gunwale  of  the  boat  with  his  hand.  A  sailor 
immediately  severed  it  with  a  cutlass.  The  strug 
gling  victim  made  a  desperate  grasp  with  his  other 
hand,  which  was  severed  in  like  manner.  He  then 
continued  to  tread  the  water,  holding  up  his  bleed 
ing  stumps  before  the  crew,  with  silent  but  express 
ive  eloquence  in  his  eyes,  till  the  whole  company 
was  so  wrought  upon  that  they  all  cried  out,  "He  is 
but  one  man;  let  us  save  him!"  What  is  more  af 
fecting  than  to  see  a  man  laying  down  his  life  for  his 
friend!  Surely  it  is  a  sight  which  heaven  itself  with 
pleasure  surveys;  for  it  is  said  in  the  Scriptures,  that 
"we ought  to  lay  down  our  lives  for  the  brethren." 


90     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

But  0,  look  to  Calvary!  See  the  suffering  Savior, 
bearing  his  cross  to  the  crowded  hill!  Is  he  about 
to  die  for  a  special  friend?  a  brother?  his  disciples? 
or  is  he  going  to  suffer  to  save  the  steel  from  sinking 
into  the  heart  of  his  spotless  mother?  Hear  it,  0, 
ye  heavens!  Be  astonished,  0,  earth!  He  dies  for 
his  enemies!  O,  here  is  love  unparalleled,  without 
a  bottom,  or  a  shore!  And  what  greater  testimony 
can  God  give,  to  our  sinking  world,  of  his  willing 
ness  to  save?  If  he  has  given  up  his  Son,  the  glory 
and  admiration  of  all  heaven,  for  us,  even  while  we 
were  enemies,  will  he  not,  with  him,  also  freely  give 
us  all  things? 

2.  Jonah  was  a  type  of  Christ,  in  his  resurrection. 
Well  may  an  apostle  ask,  "Why  should  it  be  thought 
a  thing  incredible  that  God  should  raise  the  dead?" 
The  resuscitating  power  of  God  is  illustrated  in 
many  of  the  grand  and  glorious  operations  of  nature. 
It  is  seen  in  the  diurnal  revolution  of  the  earth. 
We  may  suppose  ourselves  now  surrounded  by  all 
the  brilliancy  and  gayety  of  noonday.  The  sun  is 
rolling  over  our  heads  in  all  his  meridian  splendor, 
and  we  hear,  on  every  hand,  the  busy  hum  of  popu 
lation.  But  presently  the  scene  is  gradually  changed. 
The  sun  begins  to  decline,  and  he  sinks  lower  and 
lower,  till  at  last  his  beamy  head  drops  beneath  the 
western  horizon.  Now,  if  we  had  never  experi 
enced  the  revolution  of  a  day  before,  what  would 
be  our  most  reasonable  conclusions?  Would  we  not 
suppose  that  his  rapid,  downward  flight  would  con 
tinue  till  his  glittering  fires  would  be  quenched  in 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  91 

the  vortex  of  eternal  chaos?  But,  after  a  few  hours 
of  extreme  anxiety,  light  would  again  appear.  The 
golden  streaks  of  the  morning  would  illume  the 
east,  and 

"Lo!  be  comes,  the  powerful  king  of  day, 
Rejoicing  in  the  east !    The  lessening  clouds, 
The  trembling  azure,  and  the  mountain's  brow, 
Betoken  gladness,  -while  aloft  he  mounts, 
And  looks  in  boundless  majesty  abroad." 

What  a  beautiful  representation  of  the  glorious 
morning  of  the  resurrection! — when  the  gloomy 
night  of  the  grave  shall  have  rolled  over,  and  the 
archangel's  trumpet  shall  split  the  bars  and  ever 
lasting  mountains  of  earth  asunder,  and  the  rising 
martyrs  and  saints  shall  behold  the  Sun  of  right 
eousness  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  in  power, 
and  in  great  glory! 

The  same  Divine  power  is  disclosed  in  the  annual 
revolution  of  the  earth.  It  is  now  midsummer. 
The  trees  of  the  forest  are  clothed  in  their  deepest 
green.  The  flowers  of  the  garden  spread  their 
opening  bosoms  to  the  rays  of  the  cheering  sun, 
and  all  is  life  and  loveliness.  But  presently  the 
scene  shifts.  The  bleak  north-wester  begins  to 
whistle  over  the  blasted  heath.  The  trees  scatter 
their  ten  thousand  glories  to  the  merciless  winds. 
The  rains  descend;  the  snows  drive,  till  the  face  of 
universal  nature  is  clothed  with  the  snow-white 
mantle  of  death.  What  would  we  think  if  we  had 
never  seen  or  heard  of  such  a  change  before? 
Would  we  not  conclude  that  the  frost  would  strike 
deeper  and  deeper,  and  spread  wider  and  wider,  till 


92     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

gradually-failing  life  itself  would  expire?  But  the 
scene  changes  again.  The  southern  breezes  begin 
to  play;  the  snows  melt;  the  ice  dissolves;  the  trees 
resume  their  verdure;  the  flowers  feel  the  resurrec 
tion  shock;  and  all  nature  throws  her  icy  fetters  off: 
a  lovely  representation  of  the  spring-time  of  eternity, 
when  the  awakened  universe  shall  behold 

"Love,  Truth,  and  Mercy,  in  triumph  descending, 
And  nature,  all  glowing  in  Eden's  first  bloom; 
On  the  cold  cheek  of  Death  smiles  and  roses  are  blending, 
And  beauty  immortal  awakes  from  the  tomb." 

But  while  the  Lord  thus  manifests  his  quickening 
power,  he  has  declared  in  his  word  that  he  will  raise 
the  dead;  and  he  has  also  afforded,  in  the  divine  vol 
ume,  mighty  illustrations  of  his  boundless  power. 
The  case  of  Jonah  is  a  striking  representation  of  the 
resurrection;  indeed,  God  intended  that  it  should  be 
so.  Our  Savior  says,  "As  Jonah  was  three  days  in 
the  belly  of  the  whale,  so  shall  the  Son  of  man  be 
three  days  in  the  heart  of  the  earth." 

When  all  hope  of  being  saved  by  ordinary  means 
failed,  the  mariners  cast  Jonah  into  the  sea.  But 
the  Lord  had  prepared  a  fish  to  receive  him.  In  the 
New  Testament,  this  fish  is  called  a  whale.  It  is 
generally  admitted  by  the  learned  that  this  is  not 
correct,  if  the  word  whale  is  to  be  understood  in  its 
modern  signification.  In  our  context,  it  is  said,  a 
great  fish.  Although  the  whale  is,  perhaps,  the 
largest  fish  in  the  sea,  yet  it  is  not  so  well  qualified 
to  swallow  a  person,  entire,  as  some  other  fish  which 
are  much  inferior  in  point  of  bulk.  There  is  a  spe 
cies  of  shark  which  have,  in  more  modern  times, 


LORKAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  93 

swallowed  human  bodies.  Bodies  whole,  and  un 
broken,  have  been  found  within  them.  And  the 
Mediterranean  abounds  with  this  kind  of  shark. 
But  while  we  have  no  difficulty  in  finding  fish  suffi 
cient  to  do  this  thing',  we  feel  constrained  to  give  it 
as  our  opinion,  that  the  fish  that  swallowed  Jonah 
was  of  the  immediate  creation  of  God.  It  was 
doubtless  made  to  meet  this  emergency;  was  the 
only  one  of  the  kind,  and,  in  its  very  organization, 
was  designed  to  receive  the  prophet,  and  to  supply 
him  with  air  necessary  to  sustain  life.  It  is  said  the 
Lord  "prepared"  a  fish.  The  same  expression  is 
used  in  connection  with  the  gourd  and  worm.  Now, 
the  gourd  was  evidently  of  God's  immediate  creation; 
for  it  sprung  up  to  full  maturity  in  one  night.  It  is 
as  easy  for  the  Lord  to  speak  an  animal  into  exist 
ence,  as  to  create  a  full-grown  plant  in  one  night. 
Indeed,  we  can  not  suppose  it  difficult  for  him  to  do 
either,  after  having  created  the  world  and  all  that  is 
in  it.  What  he  has  done,  he  can  do  again,  when 
ever  the  interests  of  his  kingdom  require  it. 

But  be  this  as  it  may,  when  Jonah  was  launched 
overboard,  he  was  instantly  swallowed  by  the  fish, 
which,  doubtless,  darted  down  with  lightning  speed 
into  the  bosom  of  the  great  deep.  How  awful,  now, 
was  the  situation  of  the  disobedient  prophet!  His 
life  was  still  preserved — miraculously  preserved;  and 
he  was  sensibly  alive  to  all  the  horror  of  his  condi 
tion.  Entombed  in  a  living  monster,  he  realized 
that  he  was  sinking  down — down,  till  all  the  heavy 
billows  of  the  Mediterranean  rolled  between  him 


94    THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

and  the  light  of  heaven.  Sometimes,  we  may  sup« 
pose,  he  felt  the  fish  was  scraping  along  the  bottom* 
of  the  mountains,  the  bars,  and  foundations  of  the 
earth;  sometimes  shooting  into  the  silent  caverns,  or 
rolling  on  the  cracking  coral  that  carpeted  the  im 
measurable  halls  of  the  great  deep,  where  the  mari 
ner's  lead  had  never  sunk.  Well  might  he  say,  "All 
thy  waves  and  thy  billows  have  gone  over  me."  And 
now  he  was  brought  to  his  knees.  He  had  not 
prayed  in  all  the  raging  of  the  tempest;  but  now 
Jonah  ''prayed  unto  the  Lord  his  God"  and  said, 
"  0,  Lord,  I  am  cast  out  of  thy  sight;  yet  will  1  look 
toward  thy  temple."  The  Jews  were  accustomed,  in 
their  captivity,  or  under  circumstances  in  which  they 
could  not  repair  to  the  sanctuary,  to  look  toward  it. 
To  pray,  with  their  faces  directed  toward  the  temple, 
was  according  to  the  covenant  that  the  Lord  made 
with  Solomon  at  the  dedication.  But  poor  Jonah 
could  have  no  correct  idea  of  the  bearings  of  Jeru 
salem,  in  his  present  situation.  He  was  in  a  bad 
box — no  chart — no  compass — no  light  in  the  binna 
cle.  Daniel  had  a  window  that  always  looked  to 
ward  Jerusalem;  but  Jonah's  dead-lights  were  all 
shipped,  and  hatches  closed.  But,  blessed  be  God! 
faith  can  work  in  the  dark,  as  well  as  in  the  light — 
under  the  sea,  as  well  as  on  the  sea.  So,  with  an 
eye  of  faith,  in  fond  remembrance,  he  looked  toward 
the  sanctuary  of  the  Most  High.  Yea,  when  his  soul 
fainted  within  him,  he  remembered  the  Lord.  He 
was  brought  to  a  humble  confession:  "  They  that  ob 
serve  lying  vanities,  forsake  their  own  mercies."  He 


LORRAIN'S  SKA-SERMONS.  95 

makes  a  solemn  promise:  "I  will  sacrifice  to  thee, 
with  the  voice  of  thanksgiving.  I  will  pay  that  which 
I  have  vowed,  [which  was  nothing  less  than  a  life  of 
ministerial  obedience.]  Salvation  is  of  the  Lord." 

And  "the  Lord  spake  tmto  the  fish"  By  some 
violent  shock  of  nature,  or  some  special  operation  of 
Providence,  the  monster  was  filled  with  such  disa 
greeable  sensations,  that  he  instinctively  rushed  to 
the  strand,  and  cast  Jonah  on  the  shore.  The  Jews, 
in  their  computation  of  time,  always  counted  a  part, 
or  fraction  of  a  day  as  a  day.  Our  Savior  lay  in 
the  tomb  a  small  portion  of  Friday,  the  whole  of 
Saturday,  or  the  Jewish  Sabbath,  and  a  very  small 
part  of  the  first  day  of  the  week — the  Christian 
Sabbath;  so  that  it  was,  perhaps,  a  little  more  than 
thirty  hours  that  he  was  under  the  dominion  of  death. 
This  he  called  three  days.  The  Jews  never  disputed 
the  correctness  of  it;  for  it  was  perfectly  in  keeping 
with  their  mode  of  reckoning.  Jonah  lay  in  the 
fish  for  the  same  length  of  time. 

As  Jonah  descended  into  the  depths  of  the  sea, 
so  did  our  Lord  descend  into  the  gloomy  regions  of 
death. 

"  A  laud  of  deepest  shade, 

Unpierced  by  human  thought — 
The  dreary  regions  of  the  dead, 
Where  all  things  are  forgot." 

He  sounded  the  tremendous  gloom.  All  the  waves 
and  billows  of  death  passed  over  him.  But  never 
did  Death  admit  before  into  his  dark  dominions,  a 
guest  so  illustrious — so  ruinous!  He  fathomed  the 
unexplored  deep.  He  drafted  the  dismal  coast.  He 


96     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

chained  the  powers  of  darkness  to  his  chariot-wheels. 
He  drove  the  affrighted  waves  asunder.  He  arose! 
he  arose!  0,  glorious  resurrection!  0,  thou  mighty 
ocean!  thou  hast  swallowed  thy  countless  victims. 
Thy  untraversed  bottom  is  paved  with  the  bones  of 
many  a  saint  of  God.  On  thy  deep  coral-banks  still 
rolls  the  skeleton  of  the  zealous  Coke,  restless  in 
death  as  he  was  active  and  untiring  in  life.  Yes,  a 
West  India  conference  was  once  taken  at  a  swallow; 
and  many  a  pious  sailor  rests  beneath  thy  foaming 
billows!  But,  when  God  spoke,  thou  couldst  not 
hold  a  Jonah;  and  when  a  greater  than  Jonah  shall 
sound  his  resurrection  blast,  thy  heavy  waves  shall 
part;  the  eye  of  Jehovah-God  shall  sweep  thy  dark 
and  sepulchral  caverns;  and  thy  deepest  cells,  like 
Jonah's  fish,  shall  heave  their  millions  to  the  shore! 
Alleluiah!  0,  what  a  mighty  stir  in  the  watch  below! 
Awake,  and  sing,  ye  illustrious  sailors  of  Jesus 
Christ!  for  your  dew  shall  be  as  the  dew  of  herbs, 
and  the  earth  shall  cast  out  her  dead! 

Thus,  it  seems  that  the  sufferings  of  Jonah  were 
typical  of  the  ATONEMENT  and  RESURRECTION  of  Christ; 
and,  as  he  has  been  crucified  for  our  sins,  and  has 
risen  again  for  our  justification,  there  is  no  necessity 
for  a  repetition  of  these  events.  Therefore,  all  the 
superstitious  notions  which  seamen  have  founded  on 
the  narrative  of  Jonah,  ought  to  be  buried  in  eternal 
oblivion. 

II.  While  we  represent  the  prophet  as  a  type  of 
Christ,  we  might  add  that  his  obstinate  disobedience 
aptly  resembles  the  conduct  of  the  impenitent  sinner. 


LORRAIK'S  SEA-SERMONS.  97 

When  the  tempest  was  raging  in  all  its  fury,  the  men 
were  despairing,  and  all  was  involved  in  uproar  and 
confusion,  Jonah,  who  was  the  cause  of  the  storm, 
had  skulked  below,  and  was  fast  asleep  in  his  berth: 
none  more  responsible,  and  yet  none  more  uncon 
cerned.  While  asleep,  he  was  not  only  unconcerned, 
but  even  insensible  of  his  real  condition.  The  seas 
were  roaring,  the  sails  splitting,  the  spars  cracking, 
the  lightnings  flashing,  the  thunders  bursting,  and 
the  vessel  reeling  and  pitching,  as  in  the  last  throes 
of  a  hopeless  shipwreck;  yet  he  slept  on,  nor  heeded 
the  wild  uproar  of  warring  elements. 

So  the  impenitent  sinner  slumbers  on  the  verge  of 
ruin.  God  is  frowning,  hell  is  roaring,  the  muster 
ing  clouds  of  Divine  justice  are  ready  to  break  upon 
his  guilty  head.  Yet  he  sleeps  on,  unconscious  of 
his  danger,  and  ignorant  of  his  true  situation.  He 
is  blind.  He  is  dead — dead  in  trespasses  and  in 
sins.  He  sees  not  the  holiness  of  God,  the  purity 
of  his  law,  the  beauty  of  virtue,  and  the  deformity 
of  sin.  He  has  no  proper  sense  of  the  glory  of 
heaven,  the  horrors  of  hell,  or  the  imminent  danger 
to  which  he.  is  exposed.  Again:  Jonah  was  not  only 
ignorant  of  his  true  state,  but,  while  asleep,  he  was 
liable  to  indulge  in  unreal  joys,  and  to  imagine  his 
situation  to  be  widely  different  from  what  it  was. 
How  often  does  the  sailor,  while  rocked  in  his  ham 
mock,  or  berth,  dream  of  home!  In  a  moment  he  is 
sitting  by  his  own  cheerful  fireside,  surrounded  by 
his  wife  and  children,  and  telling  his  voyage  and 
his  sufferings  over;  but  all  at  once  the  pleasing 
7 


98     THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OK, 

delusion  is  broke  by  the  hoarse  and  terrific  cry  of  "All 
hands,  ahoy!  Tumble  up!  tumble  up  1"  He  awakes 
amid  flashing  lightning  and  rattling  peals  of  thunder; 
and  it  is  a  mercy  of  God  if  he  does  not  awake  many 
a  fathom  below  the  stormy  surface,  with  his  death- 
warrant  rattling  in  his  throat.  So  Jonah,  in  the 
dreams  and  visions  of  the  night,  might  have  imag 
ined  himself  at  home,  roving  over  the  flowery  plains 
of  Judea,  or,  in  flowing  robes,  addressing  large  and 
enraptured  congregations.  niwoi 

The  sinner  is  not  only  ignorant  of  his  true  relation, 
but,  alas!  he  too  dreams.  He  dreams  of  joys  and 
comforts  as  bottomless  as  the  midway  ocean.  He 
dreams  of  peace,  when  there  is  no  peace.  He  imag 
ines  that  he  is  doing  God  service,  when,  like  Saul 
of  Tarsus,  he  is  flying  right  in  the  face  of  his  will. 
Sometimes  he  thinks  he  is  on  his  way  to  heaven. 
Then,  again,  he  dreams  that  there  is  no  heaven,  no 
God,  no  immortality,  and  no  accountability.  Again: 
in  his  slumber,  the  spirit  of  Universalism,  like  the 
Queen  of  the  Fairies,  drives  athwart  his  cranium, 
and  tickles  his  fancy;  and  then  it  is  all  heaven,  all 
mercy,  all  glory,  and  no  judgment,  no  hell,  no  devil; 
andv  he  is  filled  with  the  most  exhilarating  fantasies. 
But,  as  Jonah  was  aroused  to  realize  his  situation, 
and  all  the  horrors  of  the  fearful  tempest,  so  is  the 
sinner  awakened  by  the  Spirit  of  God  from  his  aw 
ful  delusion. 

While  Jonah  was  asleep,  he  was  of  no  use  to  the 
ship.  In  such  a  storm,  the  help  of  all  on  board  was 
necessary.  While  the  sinner  is  asleep  in  his  sins,  he 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  99 

is  of  no  use  to  the  world,  to  the  Church,  or  to  him 
self.  Alas,  how  many  have  been  furnished  by  their 
Maker  with  the  brightest  gifts  and  best  natural  tal 
ents!  but  they  are  asleep,  and  slumbering  away  their 
time  in  the  sides  of  the  ship. 

And  this  is  their  condemnation,  not  that  they  are 
born  into  the  world  asleep — dead  in  trespasses  and 
sins,  but  that,  when  light  shines  into  their  souls,  and 
the  great  Shipmaster  awakens  them,  they  will  not 
"call  upon  the  Lord,  that  they  perish  not." 

The  Spirit  of  God  touches  the  ear  of  the  deaf, 
and  says,  "Be  opened!"  He  speaks  to  the  slumber 
ing  soul:  "  Awake,  thou  that  steepest!"  He  says  to 
the  blind,  "  Go,  wash  in  the  pool  of  Siloam" — the 
"fountain  open  for  sin  and  uncleanness."  He  thun 
ders  over  the  dead,  "  Come  forth!"  None  can  be 
so  deaf,  so  blind,  so  asleep,  so  dead,  that  the  quick 
ening  voice  of  Jehovah  can  not  reach  them.  Then, 
let  them  arise  and  call  upon  God,  in  mighty,  fervent, 
and  ceaseless  prayer,  and  they  shall  not  perish,  but 
have  everlasting  life. 

So  were  Jonah's  shipmates  saved  from  immediate 
shipwreck;  and  some  of  them,  we  hope,  were  saved 
from  eternal  ruin.  Although  the  Lord  might  not 
have  wrought  such  a  mighty  miracle,  simply  to  con 
vert  the  ship's  company — because  this  he  could  have 
done,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  his  providence  and 
grace — yet,  while  working  with  reference  to  other 
high  and  important  objects,  he  did  convert  the  whole 
crew  from  their  idolatry.  "  Then  the  men  feared  the 
Lord  exceedingly,  and  offered  a  sacrifice  to  the  Lord, 


100  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

and  made  vows."    Their  conduct,  indeed,  was  worthy 
of  imitation. 

1.  Finding  that  there  was  a  prophet  of  the  true 
God  on  board,  they  inquired  of  him  the  cause  of  this 
mighty  tempest,  and  in  what  way  they  could  obtain 
relief. 

2.  When  he  told  them  that  he  was  the  cause  of 
their  afflictions,  and  that  nothing  but  the  sacrifice  of 
himself  could  stay  the  hand  of  God,  and  bring  relief 
to  them,  still  they  were  unwilling  to  sacrifice  their 
passenger,  and  toiled  hard  to  bring  the  ship  to  land. 
But  when  all  human  efforts  failed,  and  while  the 
storm  was  raging  almost  to  a  perfect  hurricane,  they 
called  a  general  prayer  meeting;  and,  before  God, 
they  deplored  the  necessity  they  were  under,  and 
besought  the  Lord  to  clear  them  of  all  blood-guilti 
ness.     And 

3.  They  solemnly  launched  the  prophet  into  the 
deep. 

Now,  we  are  persuaded,  if  all  these  things  are 
duly  observed  before  another  man  is  thrown  over 
board,  there  will  never  be  another  Jonah  sacrificed. 

Jonah,  also,  was  saved  by  "calling  upon  God." 
His  stubborn  soul  would  not  bow  above  board;  but 
the  Lord  brought  him  to  pray  in  the  fish's  belly. 
And  all  who  hope  for  eternal  salvation,  must  "call 
upon  God." 

The  shipmaster  was  truly  surprised  at  the  indiffer 
ence  of  Jonah,  when  he  exclaimed,  "  What  meanest 
thou,  0,  sleeper?"  And  well  may  we  ask  the  guilty 
sinner,  What  meanest  thou? 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  101 

It  is  a  matter  of  sorrow,  that  many  who  are  awak 
ened  by  God,  and  who  see  their  deplorable  state, 
still  choose  death,  in  the  error  of  their  way.  Still, 
they  cry  out,  "A  little  more  sleep — a  little  more 
slumber."  What  meanest  thou,  0,  sleeper?  Dost 
thou  mean  that  if  thou  disregardest  the  calls  of  God, 
and  goest  fast  asleep  again,  that  thou  wilt  be  secure, 
because  insensible  of  thy  condition?  No,  sinner; 
thou  mayest  slumber  on;  and  though  thou  canst  not 
see,  canst  not  hear,  canst  not  feel,  yet  the  storm  is 
up,  the  seas  are  roaring,  the  sails  flying,  the  masts 
going  by  the  board,  and  the  ship  is  sinking  down — 
down — down;  and  the  fiery  surges  of  an  endless 
hell  will  soon  awaken  thee  to  a  painful  sense  of  ev 
erlasting  ruin.  Awake!  awake!  What  meanest 
thou?  Canst  thou  go  into  everlasting  burnings? 
Canst  thou  dwell  in  devouring  flames?  Awake, 
then,  and  call  upon  God,  that  he  may  have  mercy 
upon  you,  and  save  you  from  eternal  woe. 


When  storms  arise,  and  waves  beat  high, 

To  God's  beclouded  throne, 
The  staggering  sailor's  fervent  prayer 

Above  the  gale  is  borne. 

The  agile  vessel  scales  the  surge ; 

To  heaven  she  wings  her  way; 
Till,  reeling  on  the  foaming  verge, 

She  sinks  amid  the  spray. 

Down  in  the  trough  her  scuppers  lave ; 

Again  she  strives  to  rise, 
And,  mounted  on  a  loftier  wave, 

She  dances  to  the  skies. 


102  THE  SQUAKE-RIGGED  CEUISEK;  OE, 

tier  tattered  sails,  by  -whirling  blasts, 

Are  scattered  all  abroad; 
At  last,  her  taunt  and  heavy  masts, 

Come  thundering  by  the  board. 

And,  now,  bereft  of  all  her  spars, 

Of  rudder,  sail,  and  rope, 
The  Lord  accepts  the  feeble  prayers 

Of  mortals,  lost  to  hope. 

So  when  conviction's  stripping  gales 

Deprive  our  souls  of  ease, 
And  adverse  tempests  rend  our  sails, 

On  life's  disastrous  seas, 

Our  Savior  walks  upon  the  deep, 

To  sinners  so  distrest; 
He  soothes  the  howling  winds  to  sleep, 

And  makes  the  billows  rest. 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  103 


SERMON  V. 
THE    LEVANTER. 

GREAT  God,  with  wonder  we  survey 

Thy  works  on  every  hand ; 
They  loom  majestic  on  the  sea, 

And  glorious  on  the  land. 

When,  in  the  black,  terrific  gust, 

Thine  anger  is  unfurled, 
And  storms  on  storms,  redoubled,  burst, 

And  shake  our  guilty  world — 

When,  from  the  dark,  electric  cloud, 

_The  ragged  lightnings  flash, 
While  deaf  ning  peals  of  thunder,  loud, 
O'er  trembling  sailors  crash — 

How  awful  do  thy  frowns  aEppear! 

Thy  ways  mysterious  seem; 
They  turn  the  contrite  pale  with  fear, 

And  make  the  guilty  scream ! 

But,  as  the  Christian  sounds  thy  word, 

His  tremors  disappear ; 
For  there  a  milder  voice  is  heard, 

Which  checks  his  useless  fear. 

And  lo !  the  mercy  of  our  God, 

In  answer  to  his  prayers, 
Lays  by  the  sin-avenging  rod, 

And  guilty  rebels  spares. 


"Saying,  Fear  not,  Paul;  thou  must  be  brought  before  Caesar; 
and  lo !  God  hath  given  thee  all  them  that  sail  with  thee,"  ACTS 
xrra,  24. 

SUCH  is  the  inherent  majesty  of  virtue,  that  its 
enemies  have  never  openly  professed  to  persecute 


104  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED   CKUISEB;  OB, 

good  men  because  they  were  good.  When  the  Jews 
went  about  to  stone  our  Savior,  he  asked,  "For 
which  of  my  good  works  are  .you  going  to  kill  me?" 
As  much  as  if  he  had  said,  "Is  it  because  I  restored 
that  poor,  blind  man  to  sight?  Is  it  because  I  raised 
that  distressed  widow's  only  son?"  They,  doubtless, 
blushed  very  deeply  when  they  answered,  "For  a 

good  work  we  stone  thee  not;  but  because " 

Yes;  because.  They  must  first  darken  his  character, 
by  slander,  before  they  can  persecute;  and  it  took  a 
very  black  patch  to  do  this — even  "blasphemy" 
They  were  very  good  men  in  their  own  conceit,  and 
the  divinely-instituted  guardians  of  the  character  of 
God,  as  most  persecutors  are.  So,  also,  wken  they 
wished  to  destroy  Paul,  it  was  not  because  of  his 
piety — because  he  had  brought  contributions  to  the 
poor  of  Jerusalem — it  was  not  because  he  was  wor 
shiping  according  to  the  law  of  his  fathers;  but  it 
was,  as  they  had  it,  for  polluting  the  temple.  Still 
on  the  side  of  the  Church!  They  first  gave  him  a 
bad  name,  and  then  stirred  up  the  multitude.  The 
apostle,  knowing  that  there  was  no  mercy  to  be 
expected  from  the  furious  bigotry  of  his  country 
men,  very  wisely  appealed  to  Caesar.  He  chose 
rather  to  throw  himself  into  the  hands  of  the  uncir- 
cumcised,  than  to  breast  the  malice  of  a  hypocritical 
priesthood. 

When  it  was  determined  that  Paul  should  go  to 
Rome,  he  was  delivered  into  the  hands  of  Julius,  a 
centurion  of  Augustus's  band.  Embarking  on  board 
a  ship  of  Adramyttium,  they  intended  to  sail  by  the 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  105 

coasts  of  Asia.  The  winds,  however,  were  unfavor 
able,  and  nothing  remarkable  happened  till  they 
arrived  at  Myra.  Here  the  centurion  found  a  ship 
of  Alexandria,  which  was  bound  directly  for  Italy. 
He  transferred  his  soldiers  and  prisoners  to  this  ship, 
and  again  put  out  to  sea.  In  consequence  of  light 
and  contrary  winds,  they  made  but  little  headway 
for  several  days;  and,  being  unable  to  make  a  port 
to  windward,  they  made  for  the  island  of  Crete,  and 
came  to  in  the  "Fair  Havens."  This  was  probably 
called  the  Fair  Havens  because  it  was  easy  of  access 
from  several  points,  and  because  it  was  commodious 
and  particularly  convenient  in  fair  weather,  or  during 
the  summer-  months.  However,  it  was  both  incon 
venient  and  unsafe  in  boisterous  seasons.  As  the 
voyage  had  been  considerably  prolonged  by  calms 
and  head-winds,  Paul  admonished  them  to  lay 
up  for  the  winter  in  their  present  harbor,  espe 
cially  as  the  fast  was  already  passed.  He  had  no 
superstitious  fears  in  regard  to  the  fast.  This  was 
an  annual  fast,  which  took  place  about  the  time  of 
the  autumnal  equinox.  Hence,  it  had  become  pro 
verbial  that  it  was  dangerous  to  sail  after  the  fast; 
and  it  was  customary  for  those  who  were  then  at  sea 
to  scud  for  the  nearest  port.  "  Paul  admonished 
them,"  not  as  a  sailor,  but  as  a  prophet.  The  sail 
ing-master  and  pilot  insisted  that  their  present  situ 
ation  was  not  convenient  to  winter  in.  The  haven 
they  wished  to  reach  was  not  far  distant,  being  a 
harbor  of  the  same  island.  There  were  no  particular 
symptoms  of  bad  weather — the  south  wind  blowing 


I 
I 


106    THE  SQUAKE-RIGGED  CRUISED;  OB, 

softly.  The  centurion,  who  was  commander-in- 
chief,  unfortunately  preferred  the  opinion  of  the 
captain  to  the  prophetic  admonition  of  Paul;  so 
they  weighed  anchor,  and  put  out.  We  see  this 
vessel  leaving  Crete  forever,  without  gaining  any 
apparent  advantage  by  touching  at  it.  This  is  the 
largest  island  in  the  Mediterranean,  situated  be 
tween  thirty-five  and  thirty-six  degrees  north  lati 
tude,  and  between  twenty -two  and  twenty-seven  de 
grees  east  longitude.  It  was  much  resorted  to  by 
all  the  surrounding  nations,  and  was  a  place  of  great 
commercial  note.  Its  population  was  flush;  and  it 
presented  a  beautiful  site  for  a  Christian  Church. 
Paul  saw  its  advantages  at  a  bird's-eye  view,  and, 
after  his  release,  established  a  Church  there,  over 
which  he  appointed  and  ordained  the  youthful  Titus 
as  bishop.  When  the  ship  had  put  out,  and  was 
running  down  the  island,  hugging  the  land  pretty 
closely,  suddenly  there  arose  a  tempestuous  wind, 
called  euroclydon.  In  modern  language  it  is  called, 
along  the  coast  of  Spain,  and  in  the  Mediterranean, 
a  "  levanter" — a  fierce  and  variable  gale,  which 
sometimes  shifts,  in  a  few  moments,  several  points 
of  the  compass.  When  the  squall  first  struck  them 
they  could  not  keep  their  luff  without  capsizing,  or 
carrying  away  their  sails  or  masts.  Well  does  the 
author  remember  his  first  introduction  to  the  levanter. 
He  was  a  youth  of  about  sixteen,  standing  at  the 
helm,  while  the  ship  was  making  for  Cadiz,  which 
was  already  in  sight,  when  the  deceitful  blast  struck 
the  ship.  In  that  moment  it  snatched  our  square 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SEKMONS.  107 

main-sail  out  of  its  bolt-rope,  like  an  old  handker 
chief,  and  all  on  board  were  thrown  into  con 
sternation. 

When  the  storm  broke  on  the  ship  of  Alexandria, 
they  clapped  their  helm  aweather,  and  ran  down 
under  Clauda,  an  island  to  the  leeward  of  Crete. 
There,  getting  into  smoother  water,  they  with  much 
difficulty  hoisted  in  their  boat.  They  also  struck 
their  sails,  the  vessel  being  fore  and  aft  rigged.  As 
she  was  old  and  crazy,  they  undergirded  her,  which 
was  done  by  passing  a  cable  several  times  around 
her  hull,  and  heaving  all  taut  on  board,  so  as  to 
brace  her  beams  and  timbers,  and  to  prevent  her 
springing  a  leak.  Thus  having  laid  her  under  bare 
poles,  and  secured  every  thing  as  well  as  they  could, 
they  lashed  her  helm,  and  so  let  her  drive.  It  was 
impossible,  in  such  a  gale,  to  beat  to  windward,  and 
there  was  no  land  to  leeward  but  the  coast  of  Africa, 
which  was  afar  off;  so  they  embraced  the  opportu 
nity,  which  was  offered,  by  the  Isle  of  Clauda  knock 
ing  the  wind,  in  a  good  degree,  out  of  their  sails,  to 
make  all  as  snug  as  possible  for  a  scud.  The  storm 
still  increasing,  the  next  day  they  lightened  the 
vessel,  by  throwing  overboard  part  of  the  cargo, 
which  was  near  at  hand.  On  the  third  day  the  tem 
pest  raged  with  excessive  violence,  and  they  threw 
out  the  "tackling  of  the  ship."  There  is  some  dif 
ficulty  in  understanding  what  is  meant  by  the  "tack 
ling."  It  is  certain  that  the  word  is  not  to  be  un 
derstood  in  its  modern  sense.  We  find  them  in  pos 
session  of  their  standing  and  running  rigging,  and 


108  THE  SQUAKE-KIGGED  CKUISER;  OK, 

their  cables  and  anchors,  to  the  last.  We  get  over 
the  difficulty  by  supposing  that  she  was  an  Egyp 
tian  man-of-war,  and  that  it  was  her  fighting  tack 
ling  that  was  abandoned.  We  judge  her  to  have 
been  a  government  vessel,  from  the  number  of  men 
on  board.  There  were  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
six  men  in  the  vessel.  The  centurion  could  not  have 
commanded  more  than  one  hundred  soldiers.  It 
would  not  have  been  prudent  to  have  taken  charge  of 
more  than  fifty  prisoners — the  relief-guard  amount 
ing  to  one  soldier  for  every  prisoner.  Twelve  sail 
ors  were  sufficient  to  work  the  vessel.  That  their 
number  was  small,  is  evident  from  the  circumstance 
that  they  formed  a  conspiracy  to  put  off  in  the  boat. 
This  calculation  leaves  more  than  a  hundred  men. 
Who  could  these  be  but  the  marines,  or  fighting 
men?  In  those  days,  large  engines  were  used  on 
board,  both  of  an  offensive  and  defensive  character. 
Some  were  designed  to  throw  stones  to  a  considera 
ble  distance,  with  an  effect  little  inferior  to  that  of  a 
cannon-ball.  Others  were  constructed  to  grapple 
the  enemy,  and  capsize  him,  when  forced  to  close 
quarters.  This  warlike  furniture  was,  doubtless, 
very  cumbersome  in  such  an  unusual  storm;  and,  as 
their  dread  of  the  storm  rose  superior  to  their  fear 
of  the  enemies,  or  pirates,  that  infested  the  seas, 
they  committed  all  their  martial  apparatus  to  the 
deep,  as  a  frigate,  in  our  day,  would  do  with  her 
guns,  in  an  extremity.  But  the  storm  raged  with 
increasing  violence,  amounting  to  a  perfect  hurri 
cane.  It  added  greatly  to  their  distress,  that  neither 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  109 

sun,  moon,  nor  stars  had  been  seen  for  many  days. 
Before  the  invention  of  the  compass,  vessels  which 
were  driven  off  the  coast  had  to  depend,  for  their 
reckoning,  on  the  sun  by  day,  and  the  fixed  stars  by 
night.  Being  deprived  of  this  help,  the  vessel  was 
in  the  same  situation  that  one  would  be  in  now,  out 
at  sea,  in  dark,  stormy  weather,  without  a  compass. 
In  one  word,  they  were  lost;  "all  hope  of  being 
saved  was  taken  away." 

"But  after  long  abstinence."  This  abstinence  was 
not  altogether  a  voluntary  one.  The  people  had 
just  got  through  with  their  fast  as  the  gale  came  on. 
They  were  then,  for  several  days,  hovering  over 
eternity,  wrapped  in  black  despair — a  state  that  nat 
urally  suppresses  hunger.  In  addition  to  this,  we 
may  well  suppose  that  all  but  the  seamen  were  des 
perately  seasick.  Again:  it  was  impossible  for  them 
to  cook  their  food.  We  were  once  in  a  large  mer 
chantman,  where,  by  stress  of  weather,  we  could  not 
kindle  a  fire  in  the  caboose  for  several  days.  Al 
though  the  captain  was  extremely  jealous  of  official 
dignity  and  cabin  rights,  yet  he  brought  his  crew  into 
the  cabin,  and  made  them  range  themselves  across 
the  floor,  with  their  feet  against  each  other's  backs. 
Here  they  passed  around  their  fat  chunks  of  raw 
pork,  and  ate  independent  of  all  culinary  prepara 
tions.  It  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  Paul  and  his 
shipmates,  under  their  peculiar  circumstances,  had 
taken  no  regular  meal  for  fourteen  days. 

"Paul  stood  up  to  exhort  them."  He  reminded 
them  wherein  they  had  erred,  in  disregarding  his 


; 

110  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OB, 

prediction,  by  leaving  Crete.  He  did  not  do  this  by 
way  of  triumphing  in  their  common  distress,  but  in 
order  to  give  weight  to  his  present  exhortation.  He 
now  encouraged  them  to  eat,  and  to  be  of  good 
cheer.  He  declared  that  an  angel  of  God  had 
appeared  to  him  in  the  night,  and  had  said,  "Fear 
not,  Paul;  thou  must  be  brought  before  Caesar;  and 
lo!  God  hath  given  thee  all  that  sail  with  thee!" 

We  will  inquire  what  kind  of  fear  is  forbidden 
Paul,  or  the  children  of  God.  The  Lord  does  not 
command  his  people  to  live  entirely  devoid  of  fear. 
The  text  is  to  be  considered  in  connection  with  other 
Scriptures,  and  in  harmony  with  the  analogy  of 
faith.  In  some  sense,  and  under  some  circum 
stances,  we  are  commanded  to  fear.  It  is  said, 
"The  angel  of  the  Lord  encampeth  about  them  that 
fear  him."  And,  "  There  is  no  want  to  them  that 
fear  the  Lord."  Again:  "The  fear  of  the  Lord  is 
the  beginning  of  wisdom."  Then,  let  us  inquire, 
what  kind  of  fear  is  forbidden  the  Christian? 

1.  Slavish  fear — distressing  fear.  We  do  not  say 
that  this  fear  is  unbecoming  the  unconverted,  the 
unpardoned  sinner.  Indeed,  it  is  his  highest  wis 
dom.  We  are  aware  that  our  depraved  hearts  revolt 
against  this  truth.  And  one  might  say,  "If  I  never 
get  religion  till  I  am  moved  to  it  by  fear,  I  will 
never  get  it  at  all.  No;  nothing  but  the  impulse  of 
love  shall  bring  me  to  God."  But  how  can  the  sinner 
be  moved  to  God  by  love  while  the  carnal  mind  is 
enmity  to  God?  Again:  what  is  religion  but  love? 
"  God  is  love,  and  he  that  dwelleth  in  love,  dwelleth 


LOKRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  Ill 

in  God,  and  God  in  him."  He  that  lovcth  is  already 
born  of  God.  In  the  same  degree  that  an  immortal 
spirit  is  possessed  of  intellect,  in  the  same  degree 
must  he  fear  the  Lord,  while  he  feels  that  God  is  his 
enemy.  Hence,  the  fallen  angels,  who  are  greater 
and  mightier  in  power  than  we  are,  fear  the  Lord 
more  than  it  is  possible  for  man  to  do,  because  they 
understand  better  than  we  do  the  thunder  of  his 
power.  Brave  men  are  allowed,  by  the  common 
consent  of  mankind,  to  fear  even  a  human  enemy, 
when  he  appears  under  circumstances  of  over 
whelming  power.  During  the  last  war  with  Eng 
land,  Commodore  Decatur,  of  the  frigate  President, 
engaged  the  Endymion.  He  fought  till  the  scuppers 
were  strewed  with  the  dead,  and  the  enemy  struck. 
Just  then  the  whole  squadron  bore  down  upon  him, 
when  he  surrendered.  Yes;  he  looked,  for  a  mo 
ment,  at  the  hopeless  conflict  before  him,  gave  one 
broadside,  and  struck.  Did  his  countrymen  breathe 
one  whisper  about  cowardice?  No;  they  knew  he 
was  brave.  They  now  saw  that  he  was  wise  and 
humane,  and  altogether  too  noble  to  sacrifice  the 
lives  of  his  men  wantonly.  But  what,  let  us  ask, 
was  the  force  brought  against  the  Commodore  in 
comparison  with  that  almighty  Power  that  faces 
every  ungodly  sinner?"  The  face  of  the  Lord  is 
against  them  that  do  evil.  Some  delight  to  boast 
that  they  know  not  fear — that  they  fear  neither  God 
nor  man!  Vain  and  worthless  boast!  Fear,  like 
other  passions,  is  susceptible  of  vast  expansion,  as 
well  as  dense  depression.  But  there  are  times  and 


112  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OB, 

seasons  when  the  resistless  force  of  circumstances 
will  slacken  its  restraints,  and  call  it  forth. 

A  pious  captain  was  once  very  much  troubled  with 
a  noisy  infidel  as  a  passenger — one  who  thought  he 
was  a  few  ratlins  above  the  superstitious  fears  of  the 
swinish  multitude.  By  and  by  there  came  on  an 
extraordinary  storm,  in  which  even  the  experienced 
seamen  despaired  of  being  saved.  The  captain, 
having  tried  to  serve  God  for  many  years,  and  to 
live  always  in  reference  to  death,  judgment,  and 
eternity,  was  but  little  moved.  Although  he  ex 
pected  death,  yet  his  mind  was  staid  on  God,  in 
peace.  Having  occasion  to  step  down  into  the  cabin, 
he  found  his  passenger  down  upon  his  knees,  and 
crying  lustily  upon  the  Lord  for  mercy.  The  cap 
tain,  with  dignified  composure,  said,  "  What  are 
you  praying  for,  man?  What  have  you  to  do  with 
God?"  The  infidel  answered,  "0,  captain,  my 
principles  answered  me  on  shore;  but  they  will  not 
do  at  sea,  and  in  such  a  storm  as  this."  Yes;  and 
many  have  found  that  they  will  not  do  on  land,  es 
pecially  in  the  swellings  of  Jordan.  While  it  is 
very  proper  for  the  wicked  to  be  moved  by  fear,  to 
seek  an  ark  for  the  saving  of  their  souls,  it  would  be 
highly  improper  for  Christians  to  indulge  in  any  tor 
menting  fear.  Theirs  should  be  a  tender,  filial  fear, 
founded  in  the  love  of  God.  The  difference  is  easily 
comprehended. 

We  knew  of  a  most  unprincipled  sea-captain, 
whose  cruelty  was  such,  that  he  was  under  the 
necessity  of  getting  others  to  ship  his  hands. 


LOKRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  113 

Frequently,  he  did  not  come  on  board  till  the  pilot^ 
boat  came  along  side  to  take  the  pilot  off.  He  had 
been  known  to  sit  on  the  hen-coop,  Qn  a  certain  oc 
casion,  and  to  amuse  himself  in  firing  his  pistols  at 
the  men  while  they  were  reefing  the  topsails  in  a 
storm.  It  was  reported  that  he  had  killed  several 
men;  and,  indeed,  he  was  at  last  obliged  to  fly  his 
country.  This  man  was  feared,  and  scrupulously 
obeyed.  His  men  feared  him;  but  they  hated  him. 
Again:  we  have  seen  captains  who  were  feared  and 
obeyed;  and  feared,  because  they  were  loved.  Their 
men  had  such  an  attachment  to  them,  that  they 
feared  to  do  any  thing  that  might  hurt  their  feelings. 
So  the  Christian  has  no  distressing  fear,  but  a  whole 
some  fear  of  the  Lord,  that  is  highly  conducive  to 
his  enjoyment  in  the  path  of  duty.  Because  he 
loves  God,  he  has  a  lively  fear  of  losing  his  favor  by 
apostasy.  This  fear  an  inspired  apostle  inculcates. 
After  portraying  the  great  falling  away  of  the  Isra 
elites  in  the  wilderness,  he  says  to  his  brethren,  "  Let 
us  also  fear,  lest  a  promise  being  left  us  of  entering 
in,  any  of  us  should  seem  to  come  short."  In  his 
Epistle  to  the  Romans,  speaking  of  the  same  char 
acters,  he  says,  "Because  of  unbelief,  they  were 
broken  off,  and  ye  stand  by  faith.  Be  not  high- 
minded,  but  fear."  We  might  add,  that  this  whole 
some  fear  is,  under  God,  the  greatest  preventive  of 
backsliding. 

2.  While  the  Christian  should  not  have  a  slavish 
fear  of  God,  neither  should  he  have  such  fear  of  his 
judgments,  or  the  inbtruments  of  his  judgments, 


114  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

sucli  as  storms,  pestilence,  etc.;  for  to  fear  the  creat 
ure  more  than  the  Creator,  is  manifestly  idolatry. 
We  will  give  an  example  of  Christian  duty  on  this 
head,  and  pass  on.  An  irreligious  lady,  who  was 
married  to  a  very  worthy  and  pious  captain,  on  a 
certain  occasion,  accompanied  him  to  sea.  In  a  very 
violent  storm  the  ship  was  in  immediate  danger  of 
being  thrown  on  a  lee-shore.  Nothing,  under  God, 
saved  her  but  a  timely  and  providential  shift  of  wind. 
Every  one  on  board  was  thrown  into  the  utmost  con 
sternation  but  the  captain.  He  calmly  and  indus 
triously  attended  to  all  his  duty.  And  when  the 
last  lingering  hope  of  escape  expired,  he  patiently 
waited  the  result.  After  the  danger  was  passed, 
his  wife  asked  him  if  they  had  not  been  in  great 
peril.  He  'answered,  that  he  had  never  been  so  near 
shipwreck  in  his  life.  "  So  I  thought,"  said  his  lady; 
"  but  how  was  it  that  you  were  so  tranquil,  and  un 
dismayed,  while  all  was  quaking  around  you?"  In 
stead  of  giving  her  a  direct  answer,  he  took  down  a 
cutlass,  and  flourished  it  over  her  head  with  a  well- 
dissembled  frown,  and  said,  "  Are  you  not  afraid  of 
this  sword?"  She  answered,  "Not  at  all."  "Why 
are  you  not  afraid  of  it?"  "Because,"  said  she,  "it 
is  in  the  hand  of  my  loving  husband;  and  I  know 
he  would  not  hurt  a  hair  of  my  head."  "Then," 
Said  the  captain,  "you  have  my  answer.  The  storm 
was  in  the  hands  of  my  glorious  and  heavenly 
Father.  I  knew  it  might  change  my  mode  of  exist 
ence;  but  I  knew  it  could  not  harm  me;  for  God  has 
promised,  that  all  things  shall  work  together  for  good 


1  •  ••": 

LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  115 

to  them  that  love  the  Lord;  to  them  that  are  the 
called,  according  to  his  purpose." 

3.  The  Christian  should  not  have  a  tormenting 
fear  of  death.  There  is,  indeed,  an  instinctive  fear 
of  death,  that  our  Creator  has  implanted  in  all  ani 
mals.  It  is,  no  doubt,  designed  as  a  preservative  of 
life.  If  it  were  totally  destroyed,  the  earth  would 
soon  be  divested  of  its  living  inhabitants.  The  beasts 
of  the  field,  in  their  frolicsome  or  angry  moods, 
would  leap  every  precipice,  or  plunge  into  every 
flood.  Heedless  man  Avould  no  longer  start  from 
the  falling  tower.  Hurricanes  might  sweep,  but  the 
jovial  sailor  would  hold  on  to  all  his  tacks  and  sheets, 
and  go  laughing  to  the  bottom.  There  are  those 
who  call  in  question  the  Christian's  faith,  because 
he  stands  from  under  the  falling  spar,  or  takes  med 
icine  in  his  sickness.  The  Christian  may  love  God, 
love  heaven,  and  long  to  be  in  his  eternal  home,  and 
yet  may  dread  the  circumstances  connected  with  his 
removal.  And  often  he  sings,  in  the  language  of 
the  poet, 

"The  pains,  the  groans,  the  dying  strife, 

Fright  our  approaching  souls  away, 
And  we  shrink  back  again  to  life, 
Fond  of  our  prison  and  our  clay." 

The  Lord  no  where  requires  us  to  fall  in  love  with 
death.  It  was  a  curse  in  the  beginning:  it  is  a  curse 
now.  But  often,  in  the  article  of  death,  when  the 
natural  love  of  life  is  no  longer  necessary  for  our 
preservation,  the  Lord  so  fills  the  soul  with  his  heav 
enly  grace,  that  even  the  instinctive  fear  of  death  is 


116   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

swallowed  up.  And  the  idea,  that  it  is  the  only 
gate  to  endless  life,  reconciles  us  to  the  stroke.  A 
man  who  has  been  several  years  in  Europe,  on  busi 
ness,  and  who  has  his  family,  friends,  and  chief  in 
terest  in  America,  may  love  his  friends — his  home, 
and  long  to  be  there;  but  if  he  is  under  the  neces 
sity  of  embarking  in  a  crazy  vessel,  one  that  is  not 
sea-worthy,  and  that  at  a  very  boisterous  season  of 
the  year,  he  can  not  avoid  having  his  fears  in  regard 
to  the  voyage,  and  the  circumstances  which  may  be 
connected  with  it.  Sometimes  Christians  are  placed 
in  circumstances  which  make  life  peculiarly  desira 
ble,  for  the  time  being.  Paul  knew,  that,  as  it  re 
garded  himself,  "to  live  was  Christ,  and  to  die  was 
gain."  But  still,  as  matters  then  stood,  he  might 
have  felt  peculiar  anxiety  about  living.  His  charac 
ter  had  been  grossly  slandered  at  Jerusalem.  There 
his  sister,  and  perhaps  other  relations,  lived,  who  felt 
the  stain  that  was  fastened  on  the  family.  Indeed, 
it  was  a  charge  of  no  small  magnitude,  especially  in 
a  Jewish  community — a  charge  of  polluting  the 
temple.  If  proved,  it  would  not  only  involve  him 
in  disgrace,  but  mar  his  past  success,  and  obstruct 
his  future  labors.  He  was  confident,  if  he  could 
have  a  fair  hearing  before  Caesar,  his  character 
would  be  purged  of  every  stain.  Under  these  cir 
cumstances  he  might  have  had  some  fear  of  being 
cut  off,  in  this  unsettled  state  of  his  affairs,  and 
could  not  say  just  then,  as  he  did  at  a  subsequent 
period,  "I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered  up."  Here 
we  see  the  strength  of  the  angel's  exhortation,  "Fear 


LORKAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  117 

not,  Paul;  thou  must  be  brought  before  Caesar." 
There  are  Christians  now,  who,  although  they  are 
not  tormented  by  the  fear  of  death,  yet,  under  pres 
ent  and  peculiar  circumstances,  desire  to  live  longer. 
Some  religious  parents  have  greatly  desired  to  live, 
to  train  up  their  children,  and  to  see  them  converted. 
In  after  life,  bending  over  the  altar  of  prayer,  with 
deep  concern,  they  have  seen  their  last  child  rise, 
disburdened  of  all  his  guilt,  and  filled  with  joy  in 
believing;  and  they  have  lifted  their  streaming  eyes 
to  heaven,  and  have  said,  "Now,  Lord,  lettest  thou 
thy  servants  depart  in  peace;  for  our  eyes  have  seen 
thy  salvation!"  It  is  true,  that  sudden  death,  in 
the  midst  of  storm,  uproar,  and  confusion,  wears  an 
aspect  peculiarly  gloomy;  but  Christian  sailors  should 
be  both  religiously  and  philosophically  fortified.  They 
should  know  that  the  physical  pangs  of  death  have 
been  greatly  exaggerated,  time  immemorial.  Some 
who  have  been  drowned,  and  who  have  afterward 
been  resuscitated,  have  represented  that  as  an  easy 
death.  We  would  give  the  testimony  of  Dr.  Clarke, 
in  his  own  words:  "At  first,  I  thought  I  saw  the 
bottom  clearly,  and  then  felt  neither  apprehension 
nor  pain;  on  the  contrary,  I  felt  as  if  I  had  been  in 
the  most  delightful  situation.  My  mind  was  tran 
quil,  and  uncommonly  happy.  I  felt  as  if  in  para 
dise;  and  yet  I  do  not  recollect  that  I  saw  any  per 
son;  the  impression  of  happiness  seemed  not  to  be 
derived  from  any  thing  around  me,  but  from  the 
state  of  my  mind;  and  yet  I  had  a  general  appre 
hension  of  pleasing  objects;  and  I  can  not  recollect 


118  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

that  any  thing  appeared  defined,  nor  did  my  eye 
take  in  any  object;  only  I  had  a  general  impression 
of  green  color,  such  as  of  fields  or  gardens.  My 
happiness  did  not  arise  from  these,  but  appeared  to 
consist  merely  in  the  tranquil  state  of  my  mind.  I 
take  it  for  granted,  from  the  circumstances,  that 
those  who  die  by  drowning,  feel  no  pain,  and  that 
probably  it  is  the  easiest  of  all  deaths."  True, 
the  stings  of  a  guilty  conscience  will  make  any 
death  horrible,  as  far  as  the  mind  is  concerned; 
but  the  Christian  has  the  testimony  of  a  good  con 
science. 

We  are  here  reminded  of  the  remarks  of  a  sailor, 
who  was  questioned  by  a  landsman  thus: 

"Where  did  your  father  die?" 

"  On  the  sea." 

"And  your  grandfather?" 

"On  the  sea." 

"Well,  are  you  not  afraid  to  follow  the  seas,  as 
your  business,  seeing  that  it  has  proved  so  fatal  to 
your  ancestors?" 

"Well,"  said  the  sailor,  "and  where  did  your 
father  die?" 

"At  home,  in  his  bed." 

"And  where  did  your  grandfather  die?" 

"In  his  bed." 

"Astonishing!  and  are  you  not  afraid  to  go  to 
bed,  seeing  it  has  proved  so  fatal  to  your  forefa 
thers?" 

Let  us,  then,  consider  that  the  Christian  is  immor 
tal  till  his  work  is  finished;  in  the  mean  time,  amidst 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  119 

all  the  disasters  and  tornadoes  of  the  sea,  there  are 
ministering  angels, 

"Perched  up  aloft, 
To  keep  watch  on  the  life  of  poor  Jack." 

When  our  work  is  finished,  we  must  go,  whether 
we  are  at  sea,  or  on  shore;  and,  through  the  mercy 
of  God,  the  passage  to  heaven  is  as  short,  and  as 
easy,  by  water,  as  by  land.  And, 

"What  boots  it  where  the  high  reward  is  given, 
Or  whence  the  soul,  triumphant,  springs  to  heaven?" 

A  thorough  preparation  for  death,  is  of  infinitely 
more  consequence  than  the  manner,  or  circumstances 
of  our  exit. 

It  is  wrong  for  Christians  to  indulge  in  unneces 
sary  fears  about  the  death  of  others,  who  have 
seemed  to  leave  the  world  under  cloudy  circumstan 
ces.  We  should  rather  resign  them  into  the  hands 
of  God,  who  is  the  righteous  Governor  of  the  uni 
verse,  and  who  will  do  right.  Mr.  Benson  makes 
some  very  fine  remarks  on  this  subject.  After 
speaking  of  the  happy  dead,  he  goes  on  to  observe: 
"And  although  we,  their  companions,  are  left  be 
hind,  let  us  take  comfort  in  considering  that  it  is  but 
for  a  little  time.  The  hour  is  fast  approaching  when 
we,  too,  shall  make  the  land.  While  the  prosperous 
gales  of  divine  grace,  arising,  swell  our  sails,  and 
waft  our  vessel  along  toward  the  shore,  the  tide  of 
some  returning  affliction  will  flow,  and  convey  it  into 
the  heavenly  harbor.  Then  our  friends  who  have 
gone  before,  shall  rejoice  to  see  us  safely  arrive,  and 
crowd  to  bid  us  welcome.  And  we,  I  doubt  not, 


120    THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

shall  have  the  comfort  of  finding  many  escaped 
thither,  under  the  direction  of  their  invisible  Cap 
tain  and  Pilot,  concerning  whom  we  had  entertained 
fears,  lest,  during  the  storm,  they  had  suffered  ship 
wreck,  and  had  been  lost  amid  the  raging  billows. 
And,  0,  what  a  meeting  shall  that  be! — what  mutual 
joys  and  gratulations,  increased  and  hightened  by 
the  great  and  threatening  dangers  through  which 
the  parties  have  passed!  Let  us  comfort  our  hearts 
with  the  prospect  of  it  amid  the  waves  of  this  troub 
lesome  world.  Let  us  entreat  our  Pilot  to  stay  with 
us,  and  to  take  charge  of  our  valuable  vessels,  richly 
laden  with  immortal  souls,  but  very  liable  to  be  run 
aground  upon  the  sand-banks  of  this  world,  the 
rocks  of  pride,  or  even  to  be  swallowed  up  in  the 
whirlpools  of  pleasure.  Let  us  spread  the  sails  of 
our  affections,  to  catch  the  gales  of  those  heavenly 
influences  that  arise  to  waft  us  to  the  promised 
land.'" 

God  comforted  Paul  with  the  assurance  that  he 
should  not  die  at  that  time:  "  Thou  must  be  brought 
before  Ccesar." 

4.  Christians  should  not  have  distressing  fears 
concerning  the  wicked.  They  should  have  that  con 
servative  fear  that  will  lead  them  to  put  forth  every 
necessary  effort  for  their  salvation.  Having  done 
this,  we  should  calmly  leave  the  event  to  God. 

Paul  was,  doubtless,  much  exercised  about  his 
wicked  shipmates.  He  found  himself,  by  the  provi 
dence  of  God,  placed  in  the  spiritual  charge  of  two 
hundred  and  seventy-six  souls.  The  most  of  them 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  121 

were,  no  doubt,  desperately  wicked.  They  were  a 
motley  mixture  of  sailors,  soldiers,  and  convicts. 
While  the  apostle  saw  this  ungodly  crew,  hair-hung 
and  breeze-shaken  over  the  awful  gulf  of  damna 
tion,  in  all  their  blood,  and  in  all  their  unpardoned 
sins,  he  must  have  felt  fearful  apprehensions  con 
cerning  them,  and,  doubtless,  lost  no  opportunity  of 
exhorting,  reproving,  and  entreating  them  to  make 
their  peace  with  God.  It  is  not  unreasonable  to  sup 
pose  he  was  swallowed  up  with  overmuch  sorrow. 
To  calm  his  troubled  mind,  the  angel  was  directed 
to  add,  "And  lo!  God  hath  given  thee  all  them  that 
sail  with  thee!"  Paul  was  the  light  of  this  ship — 
the  salt  of  the  crew;  and  it  was  a  remarkable  cir 
cumstance  that,  although  they  were  shipwrecked, 
and  the  vessel  went  entirely  to  pieces,  yet,  out  of  a 
ship's  company  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-six  per 
sons,  not  one  was  lost.  But  we  are  not  sure  that 
God  did  not  promise  Paul  their  souls,  as  well  as 
their  lives;  for  it  was  their  salvation  that  he  was 
most  concerned  about;  and  the  promise  was  very 
strong,  "Lo!  God  has  given  thee  all  them  that  sail 
with  thee!"  Paul  preached  much  to  them,  and 
under  very  favorable  circumstances,  with  death, 
judgment,  and  eternity  full  in  view.  The  exact  ful 
fillment  of  his  predictions  must  have  convinced  them 
of  his  heavenly  mission.  The  miracles  which  he 
afterward  wrought  in  the  island  increased  their  con 
fidence.  Numbers  of  them  might  have  embraced 
religion  before  they  parted  with  the  singular  pris 
oner.  Others  might  have  procrastinated  for  a 


122  THE  SQTTARE-RIGGED   CRUISER;  OR, 

season;  but  perhaps,  at  some  future  period  of  their  ad 
venturous  career,  when  their  ships  were  making  their 
last  plunge,  they  might  have  thought  on  Paul,  and 
the  salvation  he  had  offered  them,  and,  laying  hold 
on  the  hope  of  the  Gospel,  might  have  made  their 
eamest  and  last  appeals  to  almighty  God;  and, 
although  their  bodies  sunk  into  the  fluid  waste,  their 
immortal  spirits  might  have  arisen  above  the  angry 
surface,  with  a  shout,  and  winged  their  mystic  flight 
to  fairer  worlds;  and  it  should  not  be  a  matter  of 
much  surprise,  if,  in  the  coming  day  of  the  Lord, 
they  should  all  be  safely  moored,  with  the  apostle, 
hard  by  the  eternal  throne.  O,  sailors!  have  you  a 
Paul — a  true  Christian — on  board?  Bless  God,  and 
take  courage;  and  let  not  the  Christian  sailor  be 
swallowed  up  with  overmuch  fear,  on  account  of  his 
wicked  shipmates.  Let  him  pray  much,  live  holy, 
and  set  a  good  example,  and  God  may  give  him  all 
that  sail  with  him. 

5.  Useless  fear.  The  fears  of  Paul  were  all  use 
less,  except  that  tender,  filial  fear,  which  is  insepa 
rable  from  Christian  faith.  This  the  event  will 
show.  On  the  fourteenth  night,  while  they  were 
driven  up  and  down  in  Adria,  the  seamen  deemed 
they  were  nearing  land.  This  they  judged  from 
many  signs — the  appearance  of  the  water,  the  pecu 
liar  motion  of  the  vessel,  and  the  disposition  of  the 
atmosphere;  for  sailors,  after  being  long  at  sea,  are 
very  sensitive  of  such  matters.  They  sounded,  and 
found  twenty  fathoms.  In  a  little  while  they  heaved 
the  lead  again,  and  got  fifteen  fathoms.  This  was 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  123 

. 
making  the  land  fast.     They  became  alarmed,  and 

dropped  four  anchors  astern.  The  vessel  was,  per 
haps,  built  like  a  Dutch  galiot,  and  carried  anchors 
both  fore  and  aft;  and,  as  they  supposed  that  they 
had  no  ground  to  spare,  they  dropped  their  anchors 
astern;  and  they  wished  for  the  day — expressive 
words!  Those  who  have  been  exposed  to  the  danger 
of  shipwreck,  through  a  long  and  gloomy  night,  can 
alone  realize  with  what  agony  men  look  for  the  day 
under  such  circumstances.  About  this  time  the 
sailors  and  their  officers  formed  a  conspiracy  to  seize 
the  boat,  and  make  their  escape.  In  order  to  do 
this,  they  pretended  that  it  was  necessary  to  carry 
anchors  out  from  the  bows.  If  this  had  been  nec 
essary,  truly  they  would  have  needed  the  boat.  But 
it  would  have  been  great  folly  to  have  moored  the 
vessel,  head  and  stern,  in  such  a  tumultuous  sea, 
and  in  a  gale  which  was  shifting  so  often  and  so 
suddenly  from  point  to  point.  However,  they 
thought  the  soldiers  knew  no  better.  It  is  probable 
that  the  sailing-master  and  his  officers  judged  that 
they  were  blown  upon  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  that 
landing  would  be  very  difficult,  and  they  concluded 
to  lay  off  and  on,  in  the  boat,  till  daylight,  and,  if 
•  they  found  they  could  not  safely  land  where  they 
were,  to  run  down  the  coast  till  they  could.  Paul, 
however,  understood  their  design,  and  said  to  the 
centuiion,  "Except  these  remain  on  board  ye  can 
not  be  saved."  This  shows  us  the  necessity  of 
attending  to  means  and  observing  conditions.  Sal 
vation  is  conditional;  and,  even  where  conditions  are 


124  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

9 

not  expressed,  the  very  character  and  economy  of 
God  imply  them.  It  is  true  that  the  Lord  had  une 
quivocally  promised  Paul  that  none  should  be  lost; 
but  the  sailors  were  necessary  to  work  the  vessel, 
lash  spars,  make  rafts,  loose  the  rudder-band,  and 
reef  and  hoist  the  sail.  When  no  immediate  danger 
was  nigh,  Julius  believed  the  captain  rather  than 
Paul;  but,  after  a  more  intimate  acquaintance,  and 
especially  when  death  hove  in  view,  and  life  was  at 
stake,  he  believed  more  in  the  minister  of  Christ, 
and  commanded  his  soldiers  to  cut  the  boat's  painter, 
and  send  her  adrift.  Paul  then  exhorted  them  to 
take  some  refreshment,  to  strengthen  and  prepare 
them  for  the  shock.  Having  taken  his  advice,  they 
gathered  courage,  and  began  to  throw  their  wheat 
overboard,  so  that  they  might,  if  necessary,  run  the 
ship  as  high  as  possible  on  the  beach.  This  wheat 
was,  doubtless,  government  property.  When  the 
day  broke,  they  discovered  an  island;  but  knew  not 
the  land.  But  they  discovered  the  mouth  of  a 
creek,  into  which  they  determined  to  drive  the  vessel. 
The  storm  had,  perhaps,  abated  a  little.  Having 
unlashed  the  rudder  and  hoisted  their  mainsail,  they 
made  for  the  land.  They  did  not  hoist  the  main 
sail  in  the  modern,  technical  sense  of  the  term. 
This  would  have  been  both  improper  and  impracti 
cable.  They  hoisted  the  sail  which  was  now  their 
main  dependence — perhaps  their  close-reefed  fore 
sail,  or  their  jib.  Every  heart  now  beat  with  anxi 
ety,  and  every  man  braced  himself  for  the  shock; 
but,  striking  on  a  bank  that  had  been  formed  by  two 


LOEEAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  125 

contrary  currents,  the  vessel  struck,  and  the  seas 
broke  with  great  violence  over  the  stern,  and  she 
began  to  break  in  pieces.  Those  who  could,  swam 
for  their  lives.  Others,  on  rafts,  or  broken  pieces 
of  timber,  made  good  their  escape,  and  all  got  safely 
to  land.  The  island  on  which  they  were  cast  is  now 
called  Malta.  They  were  treated  with  that  extraor 
dinary  hospitality  which  has  ever  since  distinguished 
the  island.  They  were  not  called  barbarians,  in  the 
modern  sense  of  the  word.  They  were  highly  civil 
ized.  The  historian  calls  them  barbarians  because 
they  spoke  in  a  language  which  was  not  generally 
understood  by  the  ship's  company.  What  a  pity  it 
was  that  the.  ship  fell  into  a  place  where  two  seas 
met!  Brother  sailor,  look  out!  there  is  danger  in 
thy  spiritual  voyage!  Waters  and  seas,  in  the  Scrip 
tures,  often  represent  people — multitudes.  There 
are  two  seas,  or  two  kinds  of  people,  in  the  world — 
the  righteous  and  the  wicked — the  Church  and  the 
world.  There  are  different  degrees  in  grace,  and 
different  degrees  in  sin.  There  is  a  polar  region, 
where  these  two  seas  meet — the  Church  and  the 
world;  there  holiness  is  wrecked,  and  faith  frozen 
out.  Beware  of  that  bank,  by  keeping  in  the  warm 
latitude  of  Divine  love.  In  the  days  of  Constantine, 
a  gallant  ship  of  Rome,  whose  faith  had  been  spoken 
of  throughout  the  world,  struck  on  that  bank,  and 
has  been  going  to  pieces  ever  since.  We  hope,  how 
ever,  that  many  of  her  crew,  by  hard  swimming, 
and  availing  themselves  of  broken  fragments  of 
truth,  have  happily  reached  the  shore. 


126  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

By  pursuing  the  narrative,  we  find  that  Paul  had 
no  need  to  fear.  He  finally  stood  before  Caesar,  and 
was  cleared  of  all  the  ungenerous  charges  that  had 
been  brought  against  him.  So  it  is  often  with  us. 
How  often  do  we  suffer  real  distress  through  fear  of 
imaginary  ills  to  come!  It  is  a  good  saying,  that 
"we  should  not  climb  a  mountain  till  we  come  to 
it."  In  the  war  of  1812,  we  were  in  a  company  of 
volunteers,  who  marched  from  the  lower  parts  of 
Virginia  for  the  north-western  army.  After  a  few 
days'  march,  we  came  in  sight  of  the  Blue  Ridge 
Mountains.  They  seemed  to  spread  up  into  the 
heavens,  like  a  dark  and  unbroken  wall.  There  was 
much  inquietude  in  the  camp  that  night,  and  much 
inquiry  how  we  might  scale  that  stupendous  rampart 
next  day.  But,  as  we  advanced  to  the  foot  of  the 
mountain,  we  entered  into  a  road  which  gradually 
ascended,  winding  along  a  dark  ravine.  Sometimes 
we  saw,  ahead,  inaccessible  cliffs,  which  seemed  to 
frown  upon  us,  and  to  say,  "Thus  far  may  you 
come,  but  no  farther."  But,  as  we  advanced,  the 
road  would  wind  round  the  difficulty — at  one  time 
ascending,  at  another  descending — and  when  we 
thought  our  troubles  were  just  beginning,  it  was 
announced  that  we  had  made  the  summit,  and  had 
nothing  to  do  but  to  move  down  into  the  great 
valley. 

Thus  it  is  that  we  often  trouble  ourselves  about 
misfortunes  that  never  come;  or,  if  they  do  come, 
they  are  so  unlike  what  we  foreboded,  that  we  hardly 
recognize  them.  We  might  illustrate  this  by  the 


LORKAIN'S  SEA-SEKMONS.  127 

case  of  a  brother,  who  resided  in  the  bounds  of  our 
pastoral  charge.  He  was  a  plain  farmer,  and  far 
removed  from  the  noise  and  bustle  of  the  world. 
He  was  universally  esteemed  as  a  man  of  exemplary 
piety,  but  remarkably  still  in  his  profession.  He 
might  have  enjoyed  religion  much  more,  but  for  his 
gloomy  forebodings.  He  was  often  heard  to  say,  in 
his  class,  and  elsewhere,  that  he  enjoyed  religion 
some,  but  that  often,  Avhen  he  began  to  feel  happy, 
one  thought  of  death  would  spoil  all  his  enjoyment. 
This  did  not  seem  to  arise  from  a  consciousness  of 
not  being  accepted;  but  his  mind  dwelt  so  much  on 
the  circumstances  of  death — the  coffin,  the  winding- 
sheet,  the  grave.  We  attended  our  regular  appoint 
ment,  in  his  neighborhood,  one  day.  He  had  been 
employed  in  some  business  on  his  farm,  and  had 
accidentally  fallen  on  a  stake.  Being  in  a  perspira 
tion,  he  was  unconscious  of  the  extent  of  his  injury, 
and  left  his  work,  to  attend  meeting.  When  the  serv 
ices  were  ended,  he  made  an  attempt  to  rise,  but 
found  his  whole  frame  paralyzed.  He  was  taken 
home,  and  laid  on  his  bed.  In  a  moment  his  soul 
was  filled  with  unutterable  joy,  and  he  shouted  the 
praises  of  God.  "0,  brethren,"  said  he,  "par 
don  my  noise.  I  have  always  been  silent  in  your 
assemblies;  but  now  it  is  my  time.  Others  have 
shouted;  but  I  was  dumb  with  silence;  but  now  I 
am  drawing  home.  0,  the  music!  the  celestial 
music!  Do  you  not  hear  it?"  His  friends  asked 
him,  "What  music?"  He  answered,  "Such  as  I 
have  never  heard  before!"  and  then,  as  if  he  was 


4 


128  THE  SQUAKE-RIGGED  CRUISEK;  OR, 

looking  beyond  the  confines  of  time,  he  exclaimed, 
with  a  heavenly  smile,  "They  come!  they  come!" 
He  was  asked,  who  was  coming.  He  answered, 
"The  angels,  the  angels,  to  carry  me  home!"  and 
the  dying  saint  fell  back  upon  his  pillow,  and  closed 
his  eyes  in  death.  Now,  is  it  not  a  matter  of  regret 
that  so  many  Christians  live  like  this  man — in  con 
stant  dread  of  what  is  to  come,  when,  in  the  end,  it 
is  manifest  that  all  their  fears  are  useless? 

"Fear  not,  brethren;  joyful  stand 
On  the  borders  of  our  land ; 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Father's  son, 
Bids  us  undismayed  go  on." 

While  o'er  the  Adriatic  main 

The  fierce  levanter  wildly  raved, 
And  sailors  saw  their  labor  vain, 

And  lost  all  hope  of  being  saved — 
While  Paul,  oppressed  with  anxious  care, 

Bewailed,  as  lost,  the  wretched  crew, 
And  was  inclined  himself  to  fear 

The  ruthless  gale  that  round  him  blew — 
A  lovely  angel  came  to  cheer 

And  calm  the  pilgrim's  drooping  mind ; 
He  bade  the  captive  saint  not  fear; 

For  God  himself  was  in  the  wind. 
"Fear  not;  the  Maker  of  the  seas 

Will  bear  this  wretched  crew  to  land ; 
And  God  unchangeably  decrees 

That  thou  at  Caesar's  bar  must  stand." 

And  can  a  feeble  prisoner's  cries, 

Arrest  the  angry  arm  of  Heaven, 
And  draw  salvation  from  the  skies, 

When  hope  from  every  breast  is  riven? 
The  crew  with  wild  amazement  stared, 

And  owned  Jehovah's  unseen  hand ; 
While  Paul,  in  irons,  guards  his  guard, 

And  steers  his  pilot  safe  to  laud. 


LOERAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  129 


SERMON  VI. 

SEA-FIGHT. 

BLEST  is  the  man  who  never  faints 

In  Virtue's  holy  cause; 
Strong  in  the  righteousness  of  saints, 

He  keeps  his  Maker's  laws. 

He  never  tires  in  doing  well, 

He  can  not  cease  to  love; 
But  restless  as  the  ocean's  swell, 

His  active  virtues  move. 

And  as  the  midway  waters  roll. 
•  Their  waves  exceeding  clear, 
So  does  the  blood-besprinkled  soul 
Before  his  God  appear. 

Salt  of  the  earth,  he  will  retain 
The  saving  power  of  grace ; 

And  like  the  vast  salubrious  main, 
Preserve  our  tainted  race. 

His  peace  and  righteousness  abound — 

His  river,  and  his  sea — 
Till  swallowed  in  the  great  profound 

Of  blest  eternity. 


"  0,  that  thou  hadst  hearkened  to  my  commandments !  Then 
had  thy  peace  been  as  a  river,  and  thy  righteousness  as  the  waves 
of  the  sea,"  ISAIAH  iLvm,  18. 

THAT  the  power  of  volition  has  been  graciously 
bestowed  on  our  fallen  race,  is  so  fully  recognized 
by  our  text,  as  to  preclude  all  controversy.  The 
Lord  is  represented  as  mourning  over  the  Israelites, 
for  their  not  doing  that  which  they  might  have  done. 
9 


130   THE  So  TAUK- RIGGED   CRUISER;   OR, 

And  it  seems  that  his  foreknowledge  did  as  clearly 
embrace  what  might  have  been,  as  what  actually 
was.  "  0,  that  thou  hadst  hearkened  to  my  com 
mandments!"  This  is  the  language  of  regret.  "Then 
had  thy  peace  been  as  a  river,  and  thy  righteousness 
as  the  waves  of  the  sea."  This  Avas  the  comprehen 
sion  of  his  foreknowledge. 

We  might,  however,  premise  that  man  is  under 
obligations  to  keep  the  commandments  of  God. 

1.  Because  the  Lord  has  created  him;  for  there 
is  no  truth  more  self-evident  than  this.     The  Lord 
has  a  right  to  do  what  he  will  with  his  own;  espe 
cially  when  we  consider  that  his  infinite  benevolence 
will  prompt  him  to  will  only  the  highest  happiness 
of  his  creatures. 

2.  God  has  a  right  to  command  us,  in  virtue  of 
our  redemption.     We  are  doubly  his:  for  when  we 
had  destroyed  ourselves,  and  forfeited  all  hope  of 
mercy  and  compassion — when  we  were  lying  in  the 
open  field  of  ruin,  weltering  in  our  blood,  and  wal 
lowing  in  our  sins,  the  Lord  gave  his  only-begotten 
Son,  that  we  might  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting 
life.     So  we  are  not  our  own,  but  bought  with  a 
price;  even  the  precious  blood  of  Christ;  and  we  are 
bound  to  glorify  God  with  our  bodies  and  spirits, 
which  are  his. 

3.  The  Israelites  were  his  also  by  contract,  or  cov 
enant;  in  which  it  was  expressly  stipulated  that  he 
would  be  their  God,  and  that  they  would  be  his 
people.     We  sometimes  see  cause  to  make  contracts 
with  our  fellow-men;  when,  for  some  important  con- 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  131 

sideration,  we  cede  to  them  some  of  our  natural 
rights.  When  a  sailor  enters  on  board  a  man-of- 
war,  and  signs  the  articles,  he  binds  himself  to  obey 
his  officers.  It  is  true,  he  may  be  commanded  by 
young  and  inexperienced  officers — sometimes  by 
midshipmen  not  more  than  twelve  or  fifteen  years 
of  age;  and  the  experienced  seaman  may  be  ordered 
to  do  whal;  he  knows  is  not  for  the  welfare  of  the 
ship;  yet  he  feels  bound  to  do  it.  Tell  him  that  it 
is  wrong,  he  Avill  say,  "  I  know  it;  but  I  will  obey  or 
ders  if  I  break  owners."  Now,  all  who  have  devoted 
themselves  to  a  life  of  piety  and  holiness,  have  made, 
as  Israel  did,  a  covenant  with  the  Lord.  And  we 
know  that  our  glorious  God  is  too  wise  to  err  through 
ignorance — too  good  to  err  designedly;  therefore,  it 
is  our  highest  privilege,  as  well  as  our  bounden  duty, 
to  keep  his  commandments.  We  have  said  that  the 
commands  of  men  are  sometimes  unreasonable.  The 
laws  of  God  are  not,  and  never  have  been  grievous. 
We  know  that  infidels  say,  that  the  very  first  com 
mandment  supposed  to  be  given  by  him,  was  both 
unreasonable  and  grievous.  "Who  will  believe," 
say  they,  "that  God  would  condemn  our  first  par 
ents  for  merely  eating  an  apple,  or  some  other  kind 
of  fruit?"  But  here,  let  us  observe,  that  the  sin  of 
man  did  not  consist  in  merely  eating.  The  Lord,  in 
his  very  organization,  intended  that  he  should  eat; 
and  to  meet  his  wants,  all  the  trees  and  shrubbery, 
and  all  the  meandering  vines,  that  ran  through  the 
walks  of  Paradise,  were  clustered  with  the  most  de 
licious  fruit,  and  that  in  the  greatest  variety.  The 


132  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

command  was  given  to  him  as  a  test  of  his  love  and 
obedience.  If  man  could  have  set  fire  to  the  crea 
tion,  so  as  to  involve  the  whole  universe  in  a  confla 
gration,  and  had  done  so,  it  would  have  been  rebell 
ion.  The  eating  of  the  forbidden  fruit  was  not  less 
so.  He  disobeyed  God. 

The  circumstance  of  the  law  being  so  simple, 
argues  great  mercy  in  the  Almighty.  It  was  no 
abstruse,  or  undefinable  mystery — a  child  might  un 
derstand  it.  "In  the  day  that  thou  eatest  thereof, 
thou  shall  die."  It  was  not  grievous  to  bear.  We 
do  not  understand  that  there  was  any  peculiar  at 
traction,  or  magnetism,  in  the  fruit  itself.  Neither 
are  we  taught  that  there  was  any  natural  predilec 
tion  in  either  the  soul  or  body  of  man,  to  lure  him 
to  his  fate.  If  the  Lord  had  given  him  a  command 
ment  which  he  could  not  have  kept,  without  doing 
constant  violence  to  his  nature,  he  might  have  com 
plained.  But  with  all  the  bias  of  his  nature  heaven 
ward,  he  did,  either  to  gratify  his  curiosity,  and  to 
see  if  the  consequence  would  be  as  divine  Wisdom 
had  predicted,  or  to  elevate  himself  to  a  higher 
nature,  as  the  enemy  had  foretold,  stretch  forth  his 
hand  to  the 

"Fruit  of  that  forbidden  tree, 
Whose  mortal  taste  brought  death  into  the  world, 
And  all  our  woe." 

The  next  form  in  which  we  would  view  the  law 
of  God,  is  the  ten  commandments  given  through 
Moses — the  moral  law.  That  this  is  founded  in  wis 
dom  and  righteousness,  will  appear  from  the  fact. 


LORBAIN'S   SEA-SERMONS.  133 

that  although  the  commandments  are  only  ten  in 
number,  yet,  if  they  were  universally  observed,  even 
in  the  dead  letter,  this  earth  would  soon  become  an 
Eden,  and  there  would  be  no  necessity  for  any  hu 
man  legislation.  We  have  not  room  to  analyze  this 
law.  It  is  sufficient  to  call  your  attention  to  a  few 
particulars. 

The  first  law,  which  requires  us  to  make  God  the 
supreme  object  of  our  devotions,  can  not  be  either 
unreasonable  or  grievous.  When  we  consider  that 
it  is  from  him  we  derive  life  and  all  its  blessings — 
food  and  raiment,  friends  and  health,  and  safe  abode, 
and  every  good  and  perfect  gift — should  we  not  give 
him  the  uppermost  seat  in  our  hearts  and  our  aft'ec- 
tions?  And  under  such  circumstances,  is  it  not 
gross  idolatry  to  love  the  creature  more  than  the 
Creator,  who  is  "  God  over  all,  and  blessed  forever?" 

The  law  of  the  Sabbath  is  also  highly  reasonable, 
and  ought  to  be  delightful  to  every  reasonable  mind. 
If  the  Lord  had  commanded  the  Sabbath  to  be  ob 
served,  for  the  purpose  of  glorifying  himself  only, 
it  ought  not  to  be  considered  grievous.  If  a  benev 
olent  individual  should  give  a  poor  man  seven  hun 
dred  dollars,  imposing  it  on  him  at  the  same  time, 
to  spend  one  hundred  in  procuring  him  a  portrait  of 
himself,  to  hang  up  in  his  house  to  remind  himself 
and  family  of  their  benefactor,  and  the  poor  man 
should  do  so,  pray  what  would  he  lose?  Would  he 
not  be  six  hundred  dollars  richer  than  he  was?  Well, 
God  has  given  us  our  lives — every  beating  pulse  that 
we  tell,  every  breath  that  we  draw;  our  moments, 


\. 
134   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

days,  \veeks,  months,  and  years;  and  is  it  not  highly 
reasonable  that  we  should  devote  one-seventh  of  all 
to  his  glory?  But  our  obligation  increases,  when  we 
are  told  that  "the  Sabbath  was  made  for  man."  His 
nature,  physical,  mental,  and  moral,  requires  it.  It 
promotes  his  highest  interests  in  time  and  eternity. 
It  was  not  made  for  angels  or  devils,  but  for  man; 
therefore,  man  should  observe  it. 

Now,  as  it  regards  the  rest — "Thou  shalt  not 
steal,  Thou  shalt  not  kill,"  etc. — these  laws  are  so 
manifestly  necessary  for  the  comfort  and  well-being 
of  society,  that  a  humane  Atheist  can  not  object  to 
them;  for  our  well-being  in  this  life  requires  their 
observance. 

Let  us  now  look  at  the  commandments  of  God  as 
abridged,  or  reduced,  to  their  most  simple  essence: 
"Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy 
heart,  and  thy  neighbor  as  thyself."  These  comprise 
the  whole  decalogue — the  law  and  the  prophets. 
We  ask,  Are  these  grievous?  Some  will  say,  "Yes; 
for  this  plain  reason,  no  one  can  keep  them."  If  it 
is  meant  that  no  one,  in  the  strength  of  our  fallen 
state,  can  keep  them,  we  object  not.  But  when  we 
consider  that  the  Gospel,  which  requires  them,  comes 
consigned  to  the  sinner,  richly  laden  with  a  glorious 
plenitude  of  divine  grace,  and  says,  "Ask,  and  ye 
shall  receive;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find:  knock,  and  it 
shall  be  opened,"  we  are  constrained  to  say,  here, 
also,  his  law  is  not  grievous. 

It  is  true,  that  under  these  two  general  heads  are 
ranged  divers  commands,  differing  as  widely  as  the 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  135 

states  and  conditions  of  men.  There  are  commands 
for  the  vilest  of  sinners,  as,  "Let  the  wicked  forsake 
his  way:  the  unrighteous  man  his  thoughts."  There 
are  invitations  to  penitents  and  mourners,  as,  "  Come 
unto  me  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and 
I  will  give  you  rest."  To  the  righteous,  it  is  said, 
"Let  us  go  on  to  perfection."  There  are  command 
ments  addressed  to  parents,  to  children,  to  husbands, 
to  wives,  to  magistrates,  to  people,  to  masters,  to 
servants.  But  the  first  commandment  given  to  ev 
ery  sinner,  is,  "Repent,  and  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ." 

In  discussing  our  text,  we  argue, 

I.  It  is  only  in  obeying  the  commandments  of 
God,  that  we  can  be  righteous  or  religious. 

All  men,  in  a  state  of  nature,  break  the  command 
ments  of  God.  But  He  who  is  rich  in  mercy  has 
not  abandoned  us  in  our  lost  estate.  He  has  sacri 
ficed  his  Son  to  save  the  world.  He  has  made  him 
to  be  a  sin-offering  for  us,  who  knew  no  sin,  that  we 
might  be  made  the  righteousness  of  God  in  him.  To 
this  end,  the  Holy  Spirit  has  come  into  the  world, 
reproving  us  of  sin,  of  righteousness,  and  of  judg 
ment.  Those  who  yield  to  the  Divine  reproof,  be 
take  themselves  to  the  means  of  grace,  and  say, 
"  Thy  face  will  we  seek,"  soon  feel  an  earnest  hun 
gering  and  thirsting  after  righteousness  burning 
within  them.  And  Jesus  has  said,  "Blessed  are  ye 
that  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness,  for  ye 
shall  be  filled."  These  figures  are  an  appropriate 
expression  of  the  intense  anxiety  and  mental  anguish 


136  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CKUISEK;  OK, 

of  that  soul  who  is  earnestly  breathing  after  God. 
All  men  have  experienced,  at  some  time,  the  uneasy 
yearnings  of  hunger  and  thirst,  in  some  degree.  But 
to  attain  to  the  full  strength  of  the  figure,  look  at 
that  unhappy  ship's  company,  who  have  been  com 
pelled  to  launch  their  boats,  and  desert  their  sinking 
home.  When  they  first  left  the  wreck,  they  pulled 
strong  and  rowed  regular.  They  were  full  of  hope; 
and  the  thought  of  home — sweet  home — their  wives 
and  children,  rushed  on  their  nerves  and  called  their 
vigor  forth.  But  what  has  now  come  over  them? 
They  seem  languid,  dispirited,  desponding.  They 
have  long  since  divided  their  last  moldy  biscuit. 
Their  last  bottle  of  water  is  expended,  and  they  are 
on  the  point  of  starvation.  Presently,  they  cast 
strange  and  mysterious  looks  on  each  other.  Each, 
though  drowsy,  is  afraid  to  close  his  eyes,  lest  he 
should  be  devoured  by  his  messmates.  At  last,  the 
open  proposal  is  made,  that  lots  be  cast,  and  that 
one  die  to  save  the  suffering  crew;  and  the  poor 
skeleton  of  a  sailor  hardly  knows  whether  to  put  up 
his  prayer,  that  he  may  be  the  victim,  or  that  he 
may  be  spared  to  satiate  his  raging  hunger  and  thirst 
with  the  flesh  and  blood  of  his  own  shipmate.  Now, 
in  this  condition,  parents,  wives,  children,  friends,  and 
sacred  home,  are  all  forgotten.  All  their  thoughts, 
feelings,  and  words,  are  swallowed  up  in  the  all-ab 
sorbing  question,  "Where  shall  we  get  something 
to  eat — something  to  drink?"  They  truly  hunger 
and  thirst.  Or  see  that  crew  that  has  been  stranded 
on  the  coast  of  a  sandy  desert.  They  have  wan- 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  137 

dered  for  many  a  long  and  dusty  mile,  alike  destitute 
of  food  and  water.  The  sun  pours  with  intolerable 
violence  on  their  throbbing  temples.  They  look 
ahead,  and  fancy  they  see  a  little  hill-surrounded 
valley.  There,  they  hope,  lurks  the  cooling  spring, 
or  rippling  brook.  They  put  out  all  their  remaining 
strength.  Hope  adds  wings  to  their  feet.  But  when 
they  gain  the  long-sought  spot,  it  is  only  a  few  de 
ceitful  sand-hills,  thrown  together  by  the  sportive 
whirlwinds  of  the  desert.  Now  they  fall  down  in 
despair;  their  tongues  cleave  to  the  roof  of  their 
mouths;  and  extreme  hunger  and  thirst  expel  from 
their  minds  every  thought,  but  how  they  may  quench 
their  thirst  and  allay  their  hunger.  It  is  thus  that 
the  penitent  soul  pants  for  the  water  of  life — the 
bread  of  heaven.  His  intense  anxiety  for  salvation 
crowds  every  thing  else  out  of  his  mind.  He  is 
ready  to  say,  "Why  should  I  labor  for  the  bread 
that  perishes,  while  my  soul — my  immortal  spirit,  is 
starving?"  He  flies  to  secret  places;  he  falls  on  his 
bended  knees,  and  he  cries,  "O,  for  a  precious 
draught  from  the  well  of  salvation!  O,  for  one 
crumb  of  the  bread  of  life!"  His  irreligious  friends 
and  relations  may  weep  and  mourn  over  his  condi 
tion,  and  beAvail  him  as  deranged  and  lost;  but  in 
the  mean  time,  angels  are  rejoicing,  and  Jesus  says, 
"Blessed  are  ye  that  hunger  and  thirst  after  right 
eousness,  for  ye  shall  be  filled!"  Why  does  our 
Lord  pronounce  such  a  man  blessed?  He  does  not 
delight  in  the  sorrows  of  his  creatures.  He  has  de 
clared  that  he  does  not  willingly  afflict  the  children 


138   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OK, 

of  men  but  for  their  good.  He  pronounces  him 
blessed,  because  he  knows  that  he  is  not  far  from 
the  kingdom  of  righteousness,  and  peace,  and  joy. 
He  knows  that  the  extremity  of  his  thirst,  under  the 
blood  of  sprinkling,  will  bring  him  to  the  fountain — 
his  hunger  will  lead  him  to  the  rich  storehouse  of 
grace.  Do  you  see  that  boy  that  is  prompt  at  every 
call?  He  is  first  on  deck,  first  in  the  bunt,  first  at 
the  weather-earing,  and  has  such  an  amazing  con 
cern  to  become  a  perfect  seaman  that  it  drives  every 
other  concern  from  his  mind.  Will  he  not  succeed? 
Well,  so  it  is  with  the  soul  that  thirsts  after  God. 
He  thirsts  on,  prays  on,  reads  on,  fasts  on,  and  never 
rests  till,  by  faith,  he  Jays  hold  on  the  hope  of  sal 
vation.  The  Lord  purifies  his  heart  by  grace,  and 
fills  him  with  righteousness — with  pure  religion. 

This  religion  is  represented  in  our  text  as  being- 
like  the  waves  of  the  sea. 

1.  As  it  regards  its  purity.  The  waters  of  the 
midway  ocean,  or  beyond  all  soundings,  are  remark 
able  for  their  transparency.  When  any  bz'ight  article 
falls  overboard,  it  may  be  seen  for  many  a  fathom 
beneath  the  glossy  surface  of  the  deep;  and  there  is 
nothing,  in  a  crude  state  of  nature,  more  pure  and 
clear  than  the  waves  of  the  sea.  This  is  a  beautiful 
representation  of  our  holy  religion.  It  is  not  that 
abhorrent  mixture  of  vice  and  virtue,  of  sin  and  ho 
liness,  that  some  have  represented  it  to  be.  It  is  our 
high  calling  to  be  cleansed  from  all  unrighteousness. 
"Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart;  for  they  shall  see 
God."  "Be  ye  holy,  because  I,  the  Lord  thy  God, 


LORRAIU'S  SEA-SERMONS.  139 

am  holy."  Here  it  is:  If  God  is  holy,  his  religion 
must  be  holy;  for  no  pure  fountain  can  send  forth 
impure  water.  Well,  if  this  religion  is  holy,  it  must 
require  holiness  of  all  its  recipients.  We  must  be 
holy,  then,  because  God  is  holy. 

2.  The  waves  of  the  sea  possess  a  saline  or  pre 
servative  quality.  If  it  were  not  so,  the  many  ani 
mals  which  perish  in  the  sea,  together  with  all  the 
filth  and  corruption  swept  into  it  by  the  mouths  of  a 
thousand  rivers,  would  putrefy,  poison  the  whole 
atmosphere,  and  spread  a  universal  pestilence 
throughout  the  earth.  Righteousness  has,  also,  a 
preservative  power.  Christ  said  to  his  disciples, 
"Ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth."  It  is  the  Church 
of  God,  under  the  blood  of  atonement,  that  pre 
serves  our  corrupted  race.  This  is  no  fanciful  play 
on  figures.  It  is  a  doctrine  of  the  Bible.  It  was 
clearly  demonstrated  in  the  destruction  of  the  cities 
of  the  plain.  When  the  Lord  made  known  his  de 
sign  to  Abraham,  that  pious  patriarch  was  deeply 
affected,  and  he  began  to  expostulate  with  his  Maker 
in  mighty  prayer.  "0,  Lord  God,"  said  he,  "if 
there  be  fifty  righteous  persons  in  the  city,  wilt  thou 
not  spare  it  for  the  sake  of  the  fifty?"  The  Lord 
answered  that  he  would.  Then  Abraham  said, 
" Peradventure  there  shall  lack  five  of  the  fifty; 
wilt  thou  destroy  all  the  city  for  lack  of  five?"  And 
the  Lord  said,  "  If  I  find  there  forty  and  five,  I  will  not 
destroy  it."  And  thus  Abraham  went  on,  drawing 
on  the  infinite  benevolence  of  God,  till  he  got  the  num 
ber  reduced  down  to  ten.  And  the  Lord  said,  "I  will 


140  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED   CRUISER;  OR, 

not  destroy  it  for  the  ten's  sake."  When  Abraham 
found  that  there  were  not  ten  pious  souls  in  all  the 
plain,  he  considered  the  case  hopeless.  There  was 
only  one  righteous  family,  and  the  Lord  determined 
that  they  should  not  perish  with  the  guilty.  The 
wife  of  Lot  was,  doubtless,  a  child  of  God;  but  she 
was  too  worldly-minded,  and  her  heart  and  affec 
tions  were  too  closely  wedded  to  the  plains,  and  her 
interests  there.  She  cast  a  lingering  look  behind, 
and  the  Lord  struck  her  into  a  pillar  of  salt.  And 
why  a  pillar  of  salt?  That  all  coming  ages  might  see 
that,  even  in  the  most  unworthy  of  all  Lot's  family, 
the  city  lost  a  pillar  of  salt.  Ten  such  pillars  would 
have  preserved  the  city  till  the  coming  of  our  Savior. 

When  Paul  was  sailing  toward  Rome,  as  a  pris 
oner,  and  a  heavy  tempest  overtook  the  ship,  he 
prayed  for  the  preservation  of  the  wicked  crew,  and 
about  midnight  the  angel  of  the  Lord  stood  before 
him,  and  said,  "Fear  not,  Paul;  thou  must  stand 
before  Caesar;  and  lo!  God  hath  given  thee  all  them 
that  sail  with  thee!"  Was  not  Paul  the  salt  of  that 
ship— the  preserver,  under  God,  of  all  that  wicked 
crew? 

3.  The  waves  of  the  sea  are  always  active — 
always  in  motion.  Even  in  the  calmest  times,  when 
the  surface  is  as  smooth  as  a  mirror,  still  the  long, 
heavy  swells  are  seen.  The  ship  is  still  in  motion, 
and  there  is  often  more  wear  and  tear  of  sails  and 
rigging  than  there  is  in  a  steady  gale;  and  the  waves  of 
the  sea  have  never  been  perfectly  still  since  the  Lord 
measured  out  the  waters  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand. 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  141 

The  righteousness  of  saints  is  of  an  active,  stirring, 
restless  nature.  It  is  always  employed  in  getting  or 
doing  good.  As  it  regards  devotional  exercises,  the 
Christian  does  not  pray  on  the  Sabbath,  and  neglect 
to  pray  on  the  week-day.  He  is  always  the  same 
uniform  character,  at  home  and  abroad,  on  the  land 
and  on  the  sea.  In  works  of  benevolence  he  is  act 
ive,  too.  He  does  not  murmur  when  solicited  to 
help  the  poor,  or  to  support  the  Gospel.  He  rejoices 
in  every  opportunity  he  has,  to  lay  up  treasure  in 
heaven;  and  there  is  no  bilge-water  religion  in  his 
soul.  He  is  instant,  in  season  and  out  of  season,  in 
exhorting,  reproving,  and  rebuking,  with  all  long- 
suffering  and-tender  compassion. 

4.  The  waves  of  the  sea  roll  free  for  all  men. 
The  land  may  be  divided,  and  is  divided,  by  lines 
and  fences;  and  avaricious  man  may  set  the  bound 
aries  of  his  domain;  but  the  independent  billows  of 
the  proud  sea  disdain  all  property-marks  and  indi 
vidual  claims,  and,  rolling  high  over  all  impertinent 
pretensions,  flow  freely  for  all  mankind — as  free  for 
the  fragile  skiff  of  the  untutored  savage,  as  for  the 

O  O      * 

splendid  frigate  that  bears  a  nation's  thunder  round 
the  world.  So  this  righteousness  flows  free  for  all 
men;  and  whosoever  will  come,  may  come,  and  par 
take  of  the  water  of  life  freely. 

5.  In  the  hardest  storms,  the  waves  of  the  sea  rise 
highest,  and  loom  the  most  majestic,  till,  with  foam 
ing  hands,  they  seem  to  slap  the  saucy  clouds  that 
have  aroused  their  wrath.     In  the  midst  of  perse 
cution,   affliction,   and  distress,  or  while  the  keen 


342   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

tempest  of  poverty  is  sweeping  over  God's  heritage, 
then  the  saint  mounts  nearest  to  his  God,  and  the 
power  of  divine  grace  that  sustains  him  awes  a 
guilty  world. 

II.  It  is  only  in  obeying  the  commandments  of 
God  we  can  have  peace. 

Man,  in  an  unconverted  state,  is  in  rebellion 
against  God.  There  is  war  between  the  sinner  and 
his  Maker.  The  Spirit  warreth  against  the  flesh, 
and  the  flesh  fighteth  against  the  Spirit,  and  these 
are  contrary,  the  one  to  the  other.  Man  first  in 
trenches  himself  in  infidelity,  and  denies  his  moral 
responsibility  to  his  Creator,  and  wars  against  every 
principle  of  righteousness  and  true  holiness.  The 
Lord,  by  his  word,'  his  Spirit,  his  ministry,  and  his 
economy  in  creation  and  providence,  contends 
against  the  unbelief  of  his  obstinate  subject,  till,  not 
unfrequently,  he  is  made  to  yield  to  the  force  and 
power  of  divine  truth,  so  as  to  acknowledge  the 
righteous  claims  of  Heaven.  But  is  he  then  re 
claimed?  Far  from  it.  He  confesses  the  authority 
of  God,  the  equity  of  his  law,  the  beauty  of  holi 
ness,  and  the  absolute  necessity  of  the  sinner's  re 
generation,  in  order  to  eternal  happiness;  but  he 
now  takes  shelter  in  the  fortress  of  procrastination. 
He  will  keep  the  commandments  of  God;  but  not 
now.  He  would  burn  out  the  lively  taper  of  life  in 
the  service  of  God's  enemy,  and  then  fling  the  ashes 
on  heaven's  altar;  and  he  thinks  that  the  Almighty 
will  bear  the  insult.  We  do  not  mean  that  this  is 
universally  the  case.  There  are  those  who  have 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  143 

submitted  to  the  Lord  as  soon  as  they  have  been 
convinced  of  the  falsehood  of  their  views.  We 
were  greatly  pleased  with  the  experience  of  an  old 
tar,  which  was  given  in  one  of  the  Bethel  meetings. 
It  seems  that  the  morning  of  his  life  had  been  spent 
in  sinful  mirth.  The  ship  in  which  he  was  sailing  was 
so  circumstanced,  for  the  time  being,  that  the  most  ex 
perienced  had  no  hope  of.  being  saved,  but  were  ex 
pecting  death  every  moment.  All  hands  had  betaken 
themselves  to  prayer  but  this  poor  sailor.  The  ship 
mates  implored  him  to  think  of  his  soul,  and  to  call 
upon  God.  "No,  no,"  said  he,  "I  must  not  now. 
I  have  lived  in  sin  till  now.  I  dare  not  insult  my 
Maker  by  offering  him  the  very  last  dregs  of  my 
miserable  life.  I  can  not  do  so  mean.  I  see  the 
folly  of  my  life;  and,  if  I  had  the -prospect  of  a  few 
more  years  ahead,  I  would  act  otherwise;  but  now 
it  is  too  late.  I  could  have  no  confidence  in  my  own 
repentance  at  this  late  hour."  He  would  not  bow 
his  knees.  The  ship  was  providentially  delivered 
from  her  perilous  situation.  The  crew  were  glad. 
Soon  the  intoxicating  cup  passed  round.  Their  songs 
and  oaths  again  resounded  through  the  forecastle; 
but  he  who  would  not  insult  his  Maker,  by  offering 
him  his  last  hour,  was  not  seen  in  their  noisy  mess. 
Like  the  poor,  stricken  deer,  he  withdrew  from  the 
wicked  club,  and,  in  secret,  sought  the  Lord,  and 
never  rested  till  the  peace  of  God  possessed  his  soul. 
He  was  the  only  one,  of  all  the  ship's  company,  that 
forsook  his  sins.  But  how  many,  who  profess  to  be 
men  of  principle,  are  procrastinating  till  death  or 


144  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

old  age!  And  when  the  Lord,  by  all  the  means  and 
appliances  of  the  Gospel,  routs  sinners  out  of  their 
procrastination,  do  they  then  submit?  Not  always. 
They  generally  make  their  last  retreat  into  the  castle 
of  despair.  They  write  bitter  things  against  them 
selves,  and  madly  blaspheme  their  God.  They  now 
say,  "The  time  has  been  when  we  might  have 
sought  and  found  salvation.  We  then  said,  '  Time 
enough  yet;  time  enough  yet!'  But  now  mercy  is 
clean  gone  forever;  the  harvest  is  over;  the  summer 
is  ended;  and  we  are  not  saved."  But  our  gracious 
Lord  fights  against  their  dark  despondency,  and 
often  saves  them  with  an  everlasting  salvation. 

Or,  if  you  wish  to  view  the  subject  in  a  more  ship 
shape  form,  let  us  weigh  anchor,  and  put  out  into 
blue  water.  Look  out  on  the  troubled  sea  of  life! 
Behold  that  gallant  man-of-war!  At  her  peak  waves 
the  bloody  ensign  of  the  cross,  and  the  pennant  of 
just  retribution  coils  gracefully  around  her  towering 
main.  She  is  laden  with  grace,  and  plentifully 
supplied  with  the  bread  and  water  of  life.  She  is 
on  a  cruise  of  mercy,  commanded  by  the  eternal 
Emanuel;  and  the  crew  that  is  with  him  are  called, 
and  faithful,  and  chosen.  On  her  stern,  in  letters  of 
light,  may  be  seen,  "THE  EVERLASTING  GOSPEL." 
She  carries  four  beautiful  sky-lights,  and  in  them 
are  the  names  of  the  holy  Evangelists  of  almighty 
God.  Omnipotence  stands  at  the  helm,  and  her 
magazine  is  the  word  of  God. 

But  do  you  see  that  miserable  group  of  pica 
roons  to  windward?  It  is  the  squadron  of  human 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  145 

depravity,  that  is  bearing  down  to  make  war  with 
the  Lord  and  the  Gospel.  The  first  ship  that  heaves 
into  action  is  INFIDELITY.  She  is  as  old  as  the  Gos 
pel.  Although  her  rigging,  at  first  sight,  appears, 
to  some,  weighty  and  imposing,  yet  she  is  of  no 
depth,  and,  if  possible,  of  less  burden.  She  is 
commanded  by  the  devil — the  high-admiral  of  the 
black — and,  in  company  with  other  mutineers,  is 
convoying  the  world  to  hell.  Her  crew  are  remark 
able  for  their  dexterity,  but  still  more  remarkable 
for  a  wrong  application  of  their  powers.  While 
danger  is  at  a  distance,  they  are  bold  and  boisterous; 
but,  in  storms  and  engagements,  they  skulk  miser 
ably.  They,  are  well  drilled  in  every  branch  of 
Tom  Cox's  traverse,  and  can  sling  the  hatchet 
admirably.  Infidelity  fights  with  Satanic  malice. 
She  wages  the  war  with  a  design  to  rib  and  sink  the 
everlasting  Gospel,  and  not  leave  a  single  plank  on 
which  the  Christian  may  escape  to  land.  But  her 
shot  are  formed  of  very  brittle  materials — satire, 
low  wit,  and  ridicule — which  can  make  but  little 
impression  on  bulwarks  founded  in  truth.  She 
belches  out  many  rockets  and  bombs  of  sacrilege 
and  blasphemy,  which  fly  harmless  over  the  old 
ship  Zion,  or,  if  they  strike  at  all,  rebound,  with 
fatal  fury,  on  the  heads  of  the  assailant. 

The  war,  on  the  part  of  the  Gospel,  is  a  war  of 
mercy;  for  she  launched  out  into  the  world,  not  to 
destroy  the  world,  but  that  the  world,  through  her, 
might  be  saved.  Hence,  her  guns  are  principally 
leveled  at  the  hull  and  rigging  of  Infidelity,  which 
10 


146   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

have  long  since  been  riddled  and  cut  in  pieces  by 
the  force  and  power  of  divine  truth.  •  It  is  the  de 
sign  of  the  great  Captain  of  our  salvation  to  expose 
the  .weakness  of  the  shelter,  that  those  who  have 
embarked  in  such  a  wretched  expedition  may  be  in 
duced  to  quit  the  wreck,  and  seek  safety  in  the  ark 
of  eternal  salvation.  It  is  true  that  the  Lord  some 
times,  by  way  of  example,  lays  a  notorious  sinner 
low,  that  others  may  fear,  and  lay  it  to  heart,  and 
repent.  And  there  have  been  times  of  special  retri 
bution,  when  the  scuppers  have  been  strewed  with 
the  slain.  It  has  been  thought  by  some,  that  this 
old  frigate  of  damnation  would  have  struck  long 
since,  were  it  not  for  a  little  flat-bottomed  tender, 
called  "PRIDE,"  which  is  dressed  up  in  all  the  colors 
of  the  rainbow.  It  is  amusing  to  see  this  little  craft 
maneuvering.  She  is  frequently  doAvn  on  her  beam's 
end;  but  is  very  active  in  righting  again.  When 
any  of  the  infidels  jump  overboard,  and  swim  for 
their  lives,  to  lay  hold  on  the  hope  set  before  them, 
she  generally  follows  them  with  a  volley  of  small 
arms,  hissing  and  laughing.  And  there  are  some 
who  dread  her  popguns  more  than  they  do  all  the 
thunder  of  the  law  and  Gospel.  But,  thank  God! 
great  numbers  have  deserted  infidelity,  and  laid  hold 
on  the  hawser  of  eternal  life.  Sometimes  Infidelity 
has  been  so  weakened  by  the  victories  of  the  cross, 
that  she  has  been  compelled  to  haul  off,  for  a  season, 
to  clear  the  wreck,  ship  hands,  stop  leaks,  repair  dam 
ages,  reeve  new  braces,  splice  backstays,  paint  her 
sides,  and  mask  her  batteries,  that  s-he  may  renew 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  147 

the  conflict  under  more  imposing  circumstances. 
Meantime,  all  her  crew  who  have  become  crippled, 
or  any  way  disaffected,  are  transferred  on  board 
"PROCRASTINATION,"  which  next  comes  into  action. 
This  vessel  is  not  so  formidable  and  martial  in  her 
appearance,  and  not  so  open  in  her  hostility.  She 
is  a  remarkably  dull  sailer,  and  is  manned  with  such 
as  are  halting  between  two  opinions.  She  is  com 
manded  by  Presumption,  and  steered  by  Delusion; 
and  although  slow,  to  a  proverb,  there  is  not  a  ship 
in  all  the  navy  of  hell  better  calculated  to  convey 
souls  to  perdition.  Every  one  who  enters  on  board, 
does  so  with  an  intention  of  deserting  at  some  time. 
Indeed,  the  captain  favors  this  idea,  and  permits  the 
vessel  to  be  rigged  with  good  desires.  He  thinks 
that  while  they  are  content  to  live  in  procrastination, 
and  feed  on  golden  dreams,  he  is  as  certain  of  them 
as  if  they  were  already  fast  anchored  in  the  infernal 
lake.  As  soon  as  Procrastination  comes  within  gun 
shot,  she  hoists  a  beggarly  flag  of  truce,  professes 
to  be  convinced  of  the  divine  structure  of  the  Gospel, 
and  of  her  invincible  power.  She  hails  the  Prince 
of  Peace,  and  declares  that  she  will  strike,  and  come 
under  his  lee;  but — but — but  not  now.  Indeed,  she 
always  has  more  buts  than  brains  on  board;  so  she 
continues  slyly  to  ply  her  carronades. 

The  Gospel  does  not  abate  her  thunder  at  all,  but 
pours  it  in,  hot  and  heavy,  broadside  after  broadside. 
However,  "the  weapons  of  her  warfare  are  not  car 
nal,  but  mighty,  through  God,  to  the  pulling  down 
of  strongholds."  Her  shot,  made  of  solid  truth,  and 


148  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CKUISER;  OR, 

molded  in  love,  are  taken  from  the  locker  of  divine 
inspiration.  Here,  "every  bullet  has  its  billet." 
They  bear  various  inscriptions;  such  as,  "  To-day, 
if  you  will  hear  his  voice,  harden  not  your  hearts;" 
or,  "Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time:  now  is  the  day 
of  salvation."  Sometimes  the  Lord  sends  a  shaft 
of  Divine  judgment,  and  cuts  a  sinner  down,  that 
the  survivors  may  number  their  days,  and  apply 
their  hearts  to  wisdom;  for  even  the  arrows  of  the 
Almighty  are  dipped  in  compassion,  and  winged 
with  mercy.  The  incessant  firing  of  the  Gospel 
often  makes  a  good  impression,  and  many  cry  out, 
"  We  will  submit."  But  it  is  only  the  man  who  says, 
"I  do  submit,"  who  has  learned  the  happy  art  of 
escaping  this  fascinating  hooker.  The  word  and 
leap  go  together,  and  the  sinner  springs  from  the 
gunwale  of  Procrastination,  throws  himself  on  the 
unbounded  sea  of  God's  mercy,  and  is  picked  up  by 
the  life-boat  of  Zion's  holy  ship.  But  it  is  to  be 
lamented  that  when  the  enemy  sees  a  disposition  in 
some  for  an  immediate  surrender,  he  binds  them 
hand  and  foot,  and  removes  them  to  the  old  prison- 
ship  of  "DESPAIR."  She  may  be  called  a  prison- 
ship,  because  she  is  so  strongly  guarded  by  the  pow 
ers  of  darkness;  nevertheless,  there  is  fighting  on 
board.  She  is  perfectly  black:  waists,  bends,  and 
bottom;  and  always  carries  her  dead-lights  shipped. 
She  is  commanded  by  Despondency,  and  her  gunner 
is  Blasphemy.  She  is  much  disabled  in  her  head, 
and  fights  by  fits  and  starts.  Her  shot  are  wild  and 
scattering;  and  her  crew,  in  their  frantic  find  disor- 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  149 

dered  state,  often  run  out  their  guns  breech  foremost, 
and  rake  their  own  decks  miserably.  They  write 
bitter  things  against  themselves,  and  believe  that 
they  are  the  marked  objects  of  God's  displeasure. 
But  the  Lord  deals  tenderly  with  them,  and  throws 
out  very  encouraging  signals.  He  hails  them  through 
his  silver  trumpet,  and  says,  "  Come,  let  us  reason 
together;  and  though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  I  will 
make  them  as  white  as  snow."  "  Come  unto  me,  all 
ye  that  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest." 
At  times  the  crew  will  encourage  them  to  hope,  by 
saying,  "Once,  such  were  some  of  us;  but  we  are 
washed,  we  are  justified,  we  are  sanctified,  by  the 
Spirit  of  our  God.  Come,  0,  ye  despairing  sinners, 
and  trust  a  faithful  Lord!"  And,  blessed  be  God! 
some  do  escape,  even  from  this  last  sad  refuge  of 
despair,  and  are  boused,  joyfully,  on  board  the  ever 
lasting  Gospel. 

Such  are  some  of  the  enemies  that  the  Gospel  has 
to  contend  with,  in  the  world  at  large,  as  well  as  in 
the  bosom  of  every  man.  But  we  humbly  trust  that 
she  is  now  getting  the  weather-gauge.  A  little  more 
tacking  and  wearing,  and  beating  and  hauling — a 
few  more  long  legs  and  short  ones,  and,  glory  to 
God!  we  will  reach  the  pleasant  latitude  of  the  mil 
lennial  trade-winds;  and  we  will  have  nothing  to  do 
but  up  helm,  square  her  yards,  run  out  her  stud-sail- 
booms,  hoist  every  sail  chock  block,  make  fast  the 
haul-yards  for  a  full  due,  cut  away  the  down-hauls, 
and  drive  the  triumphant  flag  of  our  God  through 
the  blazing  fleet  of  the  enemy,  set  on  fire  the  king- 


150  THE  SQUAKE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OK, 

dom  of  darkness,  and,  in  the  strength  of  our  great 
Redeemer,  capsize  the  throne  of  hell.  And,  thank 
God!  there  is  no  danger  of  a  short  allowance — no 
fear  of  starvation.  We  have  heaven  for  our  store- 
ship,  Jesus  Christ  for  our  Purser,  the  wine  of  the 
kingdom  to  splice  the  main-brace,  and  our  bread  and 
our  water  are  sure.  All  we  have  to  do,  is,  to  stand 
every  man  to  his  station,  and  cook  to  the  fore-sheet, 
keep  a  bright  look-out  ahead,  watch  the  lee-lurch  and 
the  weather-roll;  while  our  adorable  Captain  will 
cheer  us  with  the  sound,  "Steady  as  she  goes!  Thus! 
thus!  very  well  thus!"  And  let  the  sinner  renounce 
his  infidelity,  desert  procrastination,  and  give  despair 
a  wide  berth,  and  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  peace — sweet  peace,  will  overflow  his  soul. 

The  peace,  consequent  on  keeping  the  command 
ments  of  God,  is  as  a  river.  Peace!  0,  how  lovely 
that  word!  I  have  sometimes  thought,  that  if  a  for 
eigner — -a  stranger  to  our  language — should  merely 
hear  that  word,  he  would  at  once  suspect,  from  the 
melody  of  its  tone,  that  it  was  a  favorite  vehicle  of 
mental  treasure.  Peace!  write  it;  how  fair!  sound 
it;  how  harmonious!  Even  political  peace  is  sweet. 
When  two  nations  have  been  distracted,  and  laid 
waste  by  war,  and  it  is  announced  over  the  land, 
that 

"Wild  war's  deadly  blast  is  blown, 
And  gentle  peace  returning," 

both  people  are  at  once  struck  tremulous  with  joy, 
and  earth's  remotest  regions  smile  with  sympathy. 
In  my  younger  days  I  used  to  be  singularly  affected 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  151 

by  a  song  of  my  shipmates.  The  song  itself  was 
rough  and  uncouth,  both  in  regard  to  rhyme  and 
measure;  but  its  sentiment  always  touched  some  of 
the  most  tender  chords  of  our  nature.  It  was  the 
simple  narrative  of  a  poor  man-of-war's  man,  who 
had  been  pressed,  and  dragged  away,  to  fight  the 
battles  of  his  country.  And  after  hard  fighting,  the 
ship  is  represented  as  having  returned,  and  anchored 
in  full  view  of  his  native  plains;  and  he  goes  on  to 
sing, 

"As  on  the  yards  we  lay, 
The  topsails  for  to  furl, 
I  heard  the  pilot  say, 
"Twas  peace  with  all  the  world." 

In  my  imagination,  I  saw  the  poor  man  returned 
to  his  native  isle;  but  no  prospect  of  deliverance — 
no  restoration  to  his  family  and  friends,  while  the 
war  lasted.  He  mounts  the  ratlins  with  a  heavy 
heart,  and  slowly  lays  out  on  the  yard-arm  to  dis 
charge  a  duty,  from  which  he  never  expected  to  be 
released  till  death.  But  just  as  he  is  bending  over, 
to  lay  hold  on  the  leech,  he  hears  the  pilot,  who  had 
just  boarded,  say  to  the  officers  on  deck,  "  It  is  peace 
with  all  the  world!"  0,  how  sweet  was  the  sound, 
to  the  weather-beaten  and  war-worn  sailor!  a  joyous 
prelude  to  his  deliverance  from  a  floating  hell,  and 
his  restoration  to  liberty  and  domestic  happiness! 
But  what  is  this,  to  the  thrilling  ecstasy  of  the  young 
convert,  who  can  lay  his  hand  upon  his  breast  and 
say,  "I  have  peace  within,  peace  with  my  God,  and 
peace  with  all  the  world!" 

Peace  like  a  river.     Rivers  commonly  originate  in 


152  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

small  springs.  We  might  trace  the  Mississippi,  the 
great  father  of  waters,  up  to  a  small,  but  perpetual 
spring  in  the  far-off  mountains.  Look  at  it,  in  its 
origin.  The  little  unassuming  stream  winds  noise 
lessly  along.  But,  as  it  flows  along,  other  springs 
unite  their  tributary  drops.  At  first,  small  obstruc 
tions — little  stones,  may  interrupt  its  course,  and 
control  its  tortuous  way;  but,  as  it  is  reinforced  by 
its  numerous  and  inexhaustible  allies,  it  gathers 
strength.  In  its  first  formation,  it  might  have  turned 
into  some  deep  valley  surrounded  by  inaccessible 
mountains;  but  there  it  swells,  rises,  and  roars,  till, 

"  Gathering  triple  force,  rapid  and  deep 
It  boils,  and  wheels,  and  foams,  and — thunders  through." 

The  everlasting  hills  give  way;  and  on  it  rushes, 
plowing  a  deeper  bed,  and  spreading  wider  banks, 
till  it  pours  down  into  the  unmeasured  ocean. 

So  the  peace  of  God  progresses  in  the  soul.  The 
river,  even,  in  its  origin,  is  pure  water.  So  the 
righteousness  of  saints  is  peace  in  the  beginning; 
for,  "being  justified  through  faith,  we  have  peace 
with  God."  This  peace  is  subject  to  much  interrup 
tion,  in  the  young  convert's  bosom;  and  though  it 
may  be  occasionally  diverted  in  its  progress,  by  un 
controllable  circumstances,  it  will  continually  seek 
the  level  of  Christian  humility.  As  the  Christian 
grows  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord, 
new  streams  and  rills  of  consolation,  love,  and  joy, 
flow  in.  The  water  rises; 

"A  rill — a  stream — a  torrent  flows; 
Yet  pours  the  mighty  flood!" 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  153 

His  peace  becomes  deeper,  spreads  wider,  till  it  be 
comes  a  mighty  river — a  broad  river!  Risen  waters! 
Alleluiah!  A  river  in  which  the  whole  sacramental 
host  of  God's  elect  might  swim — a  river  that  will 
flow  forever,  because  its  fountain  is  eternal  and  in 
exhaustible. 

Those  who  keep  the  commandments  of  God,  shall 
have  peace  as  a  river,  and  righteousness  as  the  waves 
of  the  sea.  It  remains  for  us  to  ask,  will  you,  fellow- 
sinners,  and  shipmates,  keep  the  commandments  of 
God?  will  you  begin  now,  "by  repentance  toward 
God,  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ?"  Do  not 
meet  us  with  the  stale  objection,  "We  can  not." 
When  the  prophet  exhorted  the  revolted  Israelites 
to  inquire  for  the  old  paths  and  walk  in  them,  they 
answered  over  and  above-board,  "We  will  not  walk 
therein."  They  did  not  say,  "We  can  not."  They 
knew  that  they  could.  They  knew  that  their  fathers 
had  walked  therein.  They  knew  that  there  was  a 
time  when  there  was  no  spot  in  Israel — no  defilement 
in  Jacob.  When  a  poor  apostate  prophet  stood  up 
to  curse  them,  a  divine  afflatus  overpowered  him, 
and  he  exclaimed,  "How  goodly  are  thy  tents,  0, 
Israel!  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous;  let 
my  last  end  be  like  his!"  They  knew  that  they 
could  keep  his  commandments,  but  they  said,  "  We 
will  not."  Our  Savior,  who  knew  all  that  was  in 
man,  in  the  day  of  his  incarnation,  gave  the  same 
reason  why  sinners  would  not  obey  him.  "Ye  will 
not  come  unto  me,  that  ye  might  have  life." 

Then  cease  the  effeminate  cry,  "We  can  not;  we 


154   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OK, 

can  not."  Nothing  keeps  you  from  obeying  the 
commandments  of  God,  but  your  own  obstinate  and 
perverse  wills.  The  Lord  has  done  every  thing  that 
he  can,  consistent  with  his  attributes,  and  the  moral 
agency  of  man,  to  save  sinners.  He  has  slain  the 
sacrifice,  prepared  the  feast,  and  sent  his  servants  to 
say,  "All  things  are  now  ready;  come  ye  to  the  sup 
per."  But  if  ye  will  not,  ye  will  die  in  your  sins, 
and  your  Maker  can  only  lament,  "O,  that  thou 
hadst  hearkened  unto  my  commandments;  then  had 
thy  peace  been  as  a  river,  and  thy  righteousness  as 
the  waves  of  the  sea." 


The  river,  in  its  rapid  course, 
By  streams  and  fountains  fed, 

At  every  mile  augments  its  force, 
And  plows  a  deeper  bed. 

'Tis  first  opposed  by  bars  and  shoals, 
By  rocks  and  mountains  too; 

But  as  th'  increasing  torrent  rolls, 
It  cuts  its  passage  through. 

Then  onward  moves  with  swifter  pace, 

And  an  impetuous  sweep, 
And  strains  an  everlasting  race, 

To  swell  the  mighty  deep. 

Just  so,  the  Christian's  growing  peace 

Enlarges  as  it  flows, 
Till  lost  in  love's  unbounded  seas, 

It  quits  its  narrow  shores. 

Now,  scattered  wide  by  winds  and  tides, 

This  sacred  peace  expands, 
On  waves  of  righteousness  it  rides, 

And  washes  distant  lands. 


LOREAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  155 

Lord,  let  its  limpid  billows  roll ; 

0,  let  the  flood  increase ; 
Till  love  shall  reign  in' every  soul, 

And  war  forever  cease ! 


156  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OK, 


SERMON   VII. 
RELIEF   AT   THE    HELM. 

BEHOLD  the  gallant  bark, 

So  heavy,  deep,  and  large, 
While  gathering  clouds  and  tempests  dark 

Their  furious  winds  discharge ! 

She  darts,  with  rapid  flight, 

Before  the  sweeping  gale ; 
Onward  she  drives,  and  shoots,  in  spite 

Of  reefed  or  shortened  sail. 

While  tow'ring  seas  o'erwhelm, 
She  mocks  their  mighty  force ; 

Yet  what  a  little,  trifling  helm 
Directs  her  foaming  course ! 

And,  though  she  'tempts  a  lurch,' 

Her  strongest  efforts  fail; 
The  rudder  luffs  her  to  the  surge, 

And  shivers  every  sail. 

Just  so  the  snorting  steed 

Is,  by  his  rider's  skill, 
In  all  his  rage  and  lightning  speed, 

Still  bridled  in,  at  will. 

The  bit  and  rudder  can 
Such  potent  strength  control ; 

And  so  the  slender  tongue  of  man 
Commands  the  mighty  soul. 

Who  can  its  malice  tame? 

Who  can  withstand  its  ire? 
It  dips  into  infernal  flame, 

And  sets  the  world  on  fire. 

Is  such  its  sovereign  sway 

O'er  all  the  human  race? 
Then  grant,  0,  Lord,  it  ever  may 

Be  snubbed  or  curbed  by  grace! 


LOKKAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  157 

"Behold,  also,  the  ships,  which,  though  they  be  so  great,  and 
are  driven  of  fierce  winds,  yet  are  they  turned  about  with  a  very 
small  helm,  whithersoever  the  governor  listeth;  even  so  the 
tongue  is  a  little  member,  and  boasteth  great  things,"  JAMES  ni,  4, 5. 

THE  principle  of  steering  was  discovered  at  a  very 
early  period.  Men  were,  doubtless,  instructed  in  it 
by  the  broad  hints  of  nature.  The  ease  and  facility 
with  which  the  birds  of  the  air  and  the  fishes  of  the 
sea  directed  their  courses  through  the  heavens  and 
waters,  perhaps,  suggested  the  idea  of  applying  a 
similar  power  to  boats.  The  art  of  ship-building 
was  but  in  its  infancy  in  the  days  of  the  apostle;  yet 
it  was  a  matter  of  admiration  to  him,  that  the  ships, 
which  wei-e  so  large,  and  which  were  often  driven 
by  fierce  winds,  were  so  completely  controlled  by  so 
small  a  thing  as  a  helm.  In  the  present  day,  vast 
improvements  are  making  in  shipping;  and  when  we 
see  our  frigates  and  enormous  three-deckers,  sur 
passing  in  magnitude  all  that  the  ancients  ever  imag 
ined,  under  weigh,  it  is  still  a  matter  of  wonder  that 
they  are  governed  by  such  small  helms.  It  is  true 
that  the  principle  is  simple  and  of  easy  apprehen 
sion;  and  it  is  a  notorious  fact,  that  the  stronger  the 
wind,  in  a  smooth  sea,  the  greater  command  the 
rudder  has,  and  the  quicker  the  ship  will  answer  her 
helm,  if  a  corresponding  power  can  be  applied  to 
the  wheel  or  tiller.  Yet,  as  simple  as  it  is,  when  we 
see  such  mighty  hulls,  bearing  such  a  cloud  of  can 
vas,  and  flying  before  such  tremendous  gales,  and 
still  kept  to  the  point  by  a  little  rudder,  we  can  not 
withhold  our  admiration. 


158   THE  SQUARE- RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

The  apostle  James  did  not  so  strictly  mark  the 
works  of  art  merely  to  gratify  a  vain  curiosity;  but, 
like  his  Lord  and  Master,  he  drew,  from  every  thing 
around  him,  moral  truths,  which  were  calculated  to 
stimulate  himself  and  others  to  a  life  of  practical 
holiness.  The  position  assumed  by  James  is  a  geo 
metrical  one:  as 

THE  RUDDER  :  THE  SHIP  :  :  THE  TONGUE  :  THE 
MAN. 

I.  Some  of  the  most  horrid,  most  heaven-daring, 
most  God-provoking  sins  which  are  to  be  found  on  the 
black  catalogue  of  human  vices,  flow  from  the  tongue. 

1.  Lying.  This  is  a  most  abhorrent  crime,  in  the 
view  of  our  holy  God.  Hence,  he  has  declared  that 
whosoever  loveth  or  maketh  a  lie  shall  be  excluded 
from  the  new  and  heavenly  Jerusalem.  Some  people 
are  rather  too  conscientious  to  make  a  lie;  yet  they 
will  hear  and  read  lies  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure 
and  complacency.  But  God  so  abhors  falsehood 
that  he  consigns  both  the  maker  and  the  lover  of  a 
lie  to  the  lake  that  burns  with  fire  and  brimstone. 
And  this  should  astonish  no  one,  when  he  reflects 
how  necessary  is  truth  to  the  happiness  and  well- 
being  of  human  society.  If  all  men  should  become 
habitual  liars,  what  would  be  the  consequences? 
All  history  would  soon  become  vitiated.  The  next 
generation  could  have  no  correct  information  in  re 
gard  to  past  ages;  but  universal  incredulity  would 
prevail.  It  would  only  be  by  dangerous  or  fatal 
experience  that  men  could  tell  what  is  poisonous 
and  what  is  nutritious.  The  merchant  could  put  no 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  159 

dependence  on  information  received  from  foreign 
markets.  Brother  would  utterly  supplant  brother. 
All  the  bands  of  society  would  be  dissolved,  and  the 
peace  of  mankind  destroyed.  Then  the  man  who  is 
a  common  liar  does  all  that  he  can  do  to  bring  about 
this  state  of  things.  It  is  only  because  others  are 
more  cautious  than  himself  that  we  are  saved  from 
such  wide-spread  ruin;  and  he  is  just  as  guilty,  in 
the  sight  of  God,  as  he  would  be  if  all  mankind 
were  of  the  same  stamp.  But,  as  bad  as  this  prac 
tice  is,  some  are  not  ashamed  to  apologize  for  it 
under  certain  modifications.  Some  will  say,  "There 
is  no  harm  in  telling  lies  in  jest;  that  is,  white  lies, 
which  are  not  intended  to  injure  any  one  in  his  char 
acter,  person,  or  estate — falsehood  by  way  of  amuse 
ment."  There  are,  perhaps,  no  lies  more  inexcu 
sable.  Men  may  be  strongly  tempted  to  lie,  when, 
by  so  doing,  they  might  secure  some  temporal  good, 
or  shield  themselves  from  some  threatening  calamity; 
but  to  tell  lies  in  jest  is  biting  at  the  naked  hook  of 
the  devil,  without  the  stimulus  of  a  bait;  and  it 
would  be  a  sorry  excuse  to  give  in  the  great  day, 
"Lord,  we  trampled  on  thy  commandments  for  our 
own  sport."  And  we  might  add,  after  long  observa 
tion,  we  have  never  met  with  one  who  would  lie  for 
fun  who  would  not  lie  seriously,  if  pushed. 

Others  will  say,  "  This  lying  in  sport  is  a  small, 
dirty,  and  sometimes  perplexing  business.  It  must 
be  a  little  mind  that  can  stoop  so  low;  but  we  have 
sometimes  thought  that  there  are  circumstances 
which  might  justify  us  in  telling  a  falsehood  seri- 


160   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

ously.  If  I  could  rescue  the  unfortunate  or  inno 
cent,  by  departing  from  the  truth,  would  not  God 
regard  my  motive?  Will  not  the  end  sanctify  the 
means,  so  that  the  act  may  not  only  be  justified,  but 
highly  approved  by  Heaven?"  This  is  the  old  doc 
trine,  "Let  us  do  evil  that  good  may  come."  The 
apostle  gives  a  sufficient  answer  to  this,  when  he 
says,  "If  my  lie  redounds  to  the  glory  of  God,  why 
am  I  then  counted  a  sinner?"  True;  why  has  God 
condemned  the  liar  as  a  sinner,  if  his  falsehood 
brings  glory  to  God?  The  Christian  is  not  bound 
always  to  tell  all  the  truth  he  knows,  unless  he  is 
under  the  obligations  of  an  oath.  If  his  giving  a 
direct  answer  to  a  pointed  question  would  involve 
an  innocent  person  in  trouble,  he  has  a  right  to 
evade  that  question.  Our  Lord  has  given  us  an 
example  of  this.  When  he  overtook  two  of  his  dis 
ciples,  after  his  crucifixion,  and  asked  them  what 
sorrowful  communications  they  had  by  the  way, 
they  said,  "Art  thou  only  a  stranger  in  Jerusalem, 
that  thou  knowest  not  the  things  which  have  lately 
taken  place?"  Now,  our  Lord  knew  very  well  what 
had  taken  place;  but,  instead  of  giving  a  direct 
answer,  he  said,  "What  things?"  and  this  he  did 
merely  to  draw  them  into  deeper  conversation. 
"Be  ye  wise  as  serpents  and  harmless  as  doves." 
But,  even  were  it  otherwise,  and  were  we  obliged  to 
tell  all  we  know  to  every  inquisitive  fool,  still  we 
believe  that  no  serious  evil  can  finally  result  from 
the  truth.  A  partial  and  temporary  evil  may  seem 
to  result  from  the  disclosure  of  truth;  but  in  the 


LOKRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  161 

great  day  of  eternity,  and  in  the  restitution  of  all 
things,  we  are  persuaded  that  it  will  appear  that  the 
truth  has  never  wrought  any  serious  damage  to  our 
world.  It  was  a  correct  observation  of  a  certain 
good  man,  that  "he  would  not  tell  a  willful  lie  to 
save  the  world."  He  justly  argued,  that  if  he  will 
fully  sinned,  he  would  destroy  himself;  and  what 
would  he  be  profited  if  he  should  save  the  whole 
world  and  lose  his  own  soul?  Has  not  this  evil  been 
too  prevalent  in  the  Church?  We  do  not  wish  to 
stand  up  as  an  accuser  of  the  brethren;  but  is  there 
not  too  much  violation  of  promise?  Do  not  pro 
fessors  very  often  give  solemn  promises  and  pledges, 
and  yet,  at  the  time  and  place,  there  is  a  complete 
failure?  It  is  true  that  they  will  say  that  they  have 
not  willfully  deceived — that  they  seriously  intended 
to  fulfill  their  promises  at  the  time  they  were  made; 
but  some  trivial  circumstance — a  slight  headache,  a 
little  shower  of  rain,  or  the  recollection  of  some  pre 
vious  arrangement — stepped  in  between  them  and 
the  sanctity  of  their  word,  and  they  carelessly  dis 
appointed  those  who  put  all  confidence  in  their  prom 
ises.  Now,  is  there  not  an  immorality  in  this?  In 
the  first  place,  we  should  not  promise  at  all,  unless 
we  have  a  fixed  purpose  of  performing;  and,  in  the 
second  place,  having  promised,  we  should  suffer 
nothing  but  uncontrollable  circumstances  to  come 
in  between  us  and  the  majesty  of  our  word.  The 
world,  that  knows  nothing  about  our  ifs  and  ands, 
and  our  mental  reservations,  will  say,  and  with  great 

appearance  of  truth,  "They  have  lied."     The  day 
11 


162  THE  SQUAKE-RIGGED   CRUISEK;  OB, 

of  judgment  only  will  reveal  the  extent  of  damage 
that  has  been  done  by  such  professors  of  religion. 

2.  Cursing  and  swearing  are  also  to  be  numbered 
among  the  evil  fruits  of  the  tongue.  Though  men 
of  all  countries  and  languages  are  guilty  of  this,  yet 
it  is  generally  supposed  that  swearing  is  the  prevail 
ing  sin  of  sailors;  and,  notwithstanding  the  enor 
mity  of  this  crime,  there  are  those  who  will  attempt 
an  apology.  When  reproved,  they  will  say,  "Sir, 
I  hope  you  do  not  think  I  swear  or  curse  mali 
ciously.  If  I  did  call  on  God  to  blast  the  eyes  of 
my  shipmate,  I  did  not  mean  so.  Were  he  struck 
blind  by  a  flash  of  lightning,  no  one  would  regret 
it  more  than  myself,  and  I  would  do  all  I  could  to 
help  him.  Such  language  is  more  the  fruit  of  habit 
than  any  fixed  wickedness  of  heart.  Indeed,  I  often 
swear  without  being  conscious  of  doing  so." 

We  will  admit  that  much  of  the  swearing  which 
we  hear  is  habitual.  We  have  seen  some  who  were 
much  addicted  to  profane  language,  who,  never 
theless,  seemed  to  be  greatly  shocked  on  hearing 
strange  and  novel  oaths.  We  once  sailed  on  a  pas 
sage  to  America  with  a  captain  who  was  the  most 
blasphemous  character  I  ever  knew.  His  temper 
was  ungovernable  at  all  times;  but,  in  consequence 
of  a  succession  of  calms  and  head-winds,  he  became 
almost  insane.  He  would  walk  the  deck  for  hours, 
mouthing  the  heavens.  Sometimes  his  mind  would 
seem  to  be  tortured  in  inventing  new  and  unheard- 
of  oaths.  He  made  it  a  daily  duty,  at  the  close  of 
every  day,  to  shake  his  clinched  fist  at  the  setting 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  163 

sun,  and,  with  the  most  horrid  imprecations,  would 
dare  him  to  rise  again  on  a  foul  wind.  Although 
the  hands  were  accustomed  to  curse  and  swear  in 
the  common  mode,  they  were  shocked  and  astounded 
at  his  norel  and  strange  profanity.  A  cloud  of  deep 
despondency  rested  on  the  crew,  and  they  swore 
that  they  believed  that  the  Almighty  would  never 
permit  the  ship  to  reach  home  with  such  an  ungodly 
captain.  Being  but  a  boy,  I  merely  ventured  to 
say,  "But  do  not  you  swear,  too,  and  in  the  very 
act  of  condemning  the  captain?"  The  answer  was, 
"We  are  in  the  habit  of  it — a  bad  habit,  truly;  but 
don't  you  see  he  swears  maliciously?"  Nothing  is 
more  certain  than  that  men  may  be  so  accustomed 
to  profane  language  as  not  to  realize  its  sinfulness. 
But  the  question  is,  Is  this  a  fair  apology?  Will 
you  say  that  you  have  sinned  against  God  so  much, 
so  repeatedly,  that  it  has  become  habitual — quite 
natural  and  harmless?  When  you  first  began  to 
take  such  liberties  with  the  awful  name  of  the  Most 
High,  did  you  do  so  without  being  conscious  of  the 
sin?  0,  no;  you  had  many  a  hard  conflict  with 
your  conscience  before  you  silenced  its  batteries  and 
took  the  weather-gauge.  And  this  is  the  way  in 
regard  to  every  sin.  Continual  practice  will  make 
the  most  revolting  crimes  habitual. 

"  Vice  is  a  monster  of  such  frightful  mien, 

As,  to  be  hated,  needs  but  to  be  seen; 
But,  seen  too  oft,  familiar  with  its  face, 
We  first  endure,  then  pity,  then  embrace." 

Some  years  since  a  man  was  hanged  in  one  of  our 
American  cities  for  a  certain  murder.     Under  the 


164  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISERJ'OK, 

gallows,  he  confessed  that  he  had  killed  seventeen 
people,  and  that  he  had  become  so  habituated  to  the 
work,  that  he  had  murdered  one  who  was  an  entire 
stranger  to  him,  and  against  whom  he  haa  no  mal 
ice;  but,  for  the  paltry  consideration  of  five  dollars, 
he  had  driven  him  into  eternity,  with  all  lis  unpar- 
doned  sins  upon  him.  Yet  he  did  not  maliciously, 
but  habitually,  slay  him!  So  is  it  with  swearing. 
It  is  no  apology  to  say  it  is  habitual.  It  rather  ag 
gravates  the  crime  a  thousand-fold;  and  a  holy  God 
will  damn  sinners  by  scores  and  hundreds  for  being 
practiced  blasphemers.  It  used  to  be  a  saying 
among  officers,  that  they  could  not  command  their 
men  without  swearing.  Indeed,  we  pity  that  officer 
whose  resources  are  so  slender.  But  this  doctrine 
has  been  going  down  since  religion  has  begun  to 
diffuse  its  influence  more  widely  on  the  high  seas. 
It  has  been  discovered  that  those  officers  who  "swear 
not  at  all,"  and  who  will  not  tolerate  the  practice  on 
board,  are,  without  exception,  the  ablest  command 
ers.  It  is  a  difficult  task  to  reform  a  crew  in  this 
matter,  and  the  man  who  succeeds  in  it  gives  ample 
testimony  that  he  is  an  able  captain.  Sucli  was  Sir 
James  Saumarez,  a  distinguished  officer,  who  com 
manded  a  full-manned  ship-of-war,  and  never  suf 
fered  an  oath  on  board,  or  a  swearer  to  tarry  in  his 
sight. 

But,  we  might  ask,  what  good  does  it  do  for  sea 
men  to  swear?  Some  sailors  think  that  when  they 
are  about  to  tell  an  extra  yam,  if  they  do  not  season 
it  plentifully  with  oaths,  it  will  not  be  believed. 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  165 

But  theivis  nothing  so  well  calculated  to  cast  a  shade 
of  suspicion  around  a  tale,  as  vain  swearing.  When 
you  spy  a  ship  at  sea,  with  her  masts  fished  from 
head  to  heel,  and  a  great  many  preventer-stays  about 
it,  do  you  not  at  once  conclude  that  the  masts  are 
sprung,  or,  that  there  is  something  rotten  within? 
Well;  just  so,  when  we  hear  a  story  well  slushed 
with  ugly  words,  and  find  a  great  many  round  turns 
and  half-hitches  about  it,  we  can  not  help  thinking 
it  is  a  li*  of  the  first  magnitude,  and  there  is  no 
soundness,  in  it.  Hence,  you  hear  people  always 
call  for  talced  truth — truth  without  tar  or  tackling. 
And  it  is  a  common  saying,  that  "those  who  are  not 
afraid  to  appeal  to  the  awful  God  of  heaven,  on  ev 
ery  trifling  occasion,  are  not  afraid  to  lie." 
"To  swear,  is  neither  brave,  polite,  nor  wise." 

It  is  not  brave;  for,  although  some  brave  men  have 
fallen  into  the  disgusting  practice,  there  are  thousands 
equally  brave  who  never  swear;  and,  on  the  other 
hand,  there  are  tens  of  thousands  of  the  most  cow 
ardly  wretches  that  the  sun  shines  on,  who  assume 
such  rough  and  boisterous  language,  to  throw  a 
counterfeit  bravado  around  them. 

It  is  not  polite;  for  it  makes  the  conversation  of 
a  man  disagreeable  to  the  wise  and  virtuous  of  both 
sexes;  and,  indeed,  it  disqualifies  a  person  for  polite 
and  deceit  company. 

It  is  not  wise;  because  many  of  the  senseless 
phrases,  which  are  used  by  swearers,  have  no  def 
inite  meaning  accorded  to  them  in  our  vocabulary. 
Some  hare  acknowledged  that  they  have  slid  into 


166   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

the  habit,  on  account  of  the  poverty  of  their  lan 
guage.  That  is,  they  are  often  at  a  loss  for  words 
to  express  themselves;  and  where  this  is  the  case, 
rather  than  stammer,  or  falter,  they  supply  the 
chasms  with  cursing  and  swearing.  But  why  at  a 
loss  for  words?  is  it  because  the  English  language 
is  too  meager?  No;  words  are  signs  of  our  ideas. 
There  are  words  in  abundance;  but  the  swearer,  who 
acknowledges  this  dilemma,  betrays  the  fa<t  that  he 
is  minus  in  ideas:  sufficient  testimony  this,  that  he  is 
not  wise. 

But  it  may  be  asked,  What  harm  does  cursing  and 
swearing  do?  It  insults  the  Almighty,  and  all  who 
love  and  admire  him.  It  grapples  the  ligltnings  of 
heaven,  and  draws  down  eternal  ruin  on  all  who  live 
and  die  in  the  unholy  practice.  What  does  God  say 
of  such?  "As  he  loved  cursing;  so  let  it  tome  unto 
him.  As  he  delighted  not  in  blessing;  so  let  it  be 
far  from  him.  As  he  clothed  himself  [habitually] 
with  cursing,  like  as  with  a  garment;  so  let  it  come 
into  his  bowels  like  water,  and  like  oil  in  his  bones. 
What  shall  be  done  with  thee,  0,  thou  false  tongue? 
Sharp  arrows  of  the  mighty,  with  coals  of  juniper." 
And  yet,  hear  the  blasphemous  sinner  call  upon  God 
to  damn  his  own  soul!  Dost  thou  know,  0,  wretch 
ed  man,  what  it  is  for  a  soul  to  be  damned?  The 
angels  do  not  know.  The  unhappy  lost  do  not  know. 
They  know  that  they  are  lost;  but  they  are  still  look 
ing  forward  for  fiercer  surges  of  wrath  and  indigna 
tion.  None  but  God  the  Infinite  can  fathom  eternal 
ruin;  and  it  is  because  he  does  know  the  whole 


LOREAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  167 

amount  of  woe,  that  he  does  not  load  every  squall 
with  damnation,  and  answer  your  wicked  prayer  in 
every  flash  of  lightning. 

3.  False  swearing,  or  perjury,  is  another  sin  of 
the  tongue.     This  has  prevailed  to  an  alarming  ex 
tent  among  seamen.     Officers  have  been  guilty  of 
this  for  pecuniary  considerations,  and  have  wiped 
their  mouths  and  said,  "Pshaw!  a  custom-house  oath 
is  nothing."     Sailors  before  the  mast,  have  deliber 
ately  perjured  themselves  to  procure  protections  for 
their  shipmates,  or  for  fear  of  losing  their  wages. 
And  because  they  have  kissed  their  thumbs  instead 
of  the  Bible,  or  muttered  to  themselves,  "So  help 
me  Bob,'.'  or  made  use  of  some  other  mean  strata 
gem,  they  suppose  that  they  have  shot  far  to  wind 
ward  of  heaven.     But  let  such  skulkers  know,  that 
it  is  as  much  perjury  to  swear  falsely  in  a  custom 
house,  as  it  is  to  swear  falsely  in  a  church;  and  if 
they  deceive  the  officer  and  obtain  their  end,  God  is 
not  mocked;  they  are  perjured,  and  have  exposed 
themselves  to  eternal  fire. 

4.  -A  violation  of  the  marriage  vow,  is   another 
grievous  transgression.     See  that  man,  who  arrives 
a  stranger,  in  a  strange  port.     He  pays  his  addresses 
to  some  innocent,  but  simple  girl;  and  without  wait 
ing  to  inquire  into  his  circumstances,  she  consents  to 
marry  him.     The   honeymoon,  as   it  is   called,  is 
hardly  passed,  before  she  finds  that  she  is  tied  to  a 
man  who  has  another  wife,  and  several  children. 
He  then  gathers  up  his  plunder,  sails  to  other  ports, 
marries  again,  and  again,  till  he  has  a  wife  in  almost 


168   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

every  port.  And  while  he  is  thus  scattering  arrows, 
fire-brands,  and  death,  he  wipes  his  mouth  and  says, 
"  I  am  in  sport."  But  let  us  say,  we  believe,  if  there 
is  one  vault  in  hell,  more  intensely  ignited  with  Di 
vine  wrath  than  another,  it  must  be  for  that  man, 
who  tramples  under  foot  the  finest  feelings  of  the 
heart,  and  makes  a  mock  of  this  holy  institution  of 
God;  for  marriage  was  instituted  in  the  time  of 
man's  innocence,  and,  therefore,  is  not  to  be  entered 
into  lightly,  or  irreverently,  but  in  the  fear  of  the 
Lord. 

5.  Filthy  communications.  What  shameful  lasciv- 
iousness  is  often  heard  in  the  conversation  of  wicked 
men!  How  often  are  forecastles  disgraced,  and 
turned  into  floating  hells,  by  the  filthy  language  of 
men,  who  glory  in  spouting  out  their  own  shame,  in 
words  which  would  make  a  dog  blush,  if  he  could 
comprehend  their  meaning:  and  all  about  lawless 
and  loathsome  prostitutes,  who  have  stripped  them 
of  all  their  wages  and  rigging,  to  the  last  shirt — who 
have  discharged  them,  as  soon  as  the  last  shot  in  the 
locker  is  expended,  and  have  driven  them  out  to  sea 
again,  laden  with  a  foul  conscience  and  a  shameful 
disease!  Miserable  sailors!  you  have  spent  your 
time  and  money,  while  on  shore,  in  debauchery,  rev 
eling^  and  drunkenness,  and  have  again  put  out, 
paying  off,  perhaps,  your  just  debts  under  the  fore- 
topsail.  But  now,  even  now,  if,  in  your  sober  mo 
ments  at  sea,  you  would  spend  your  time  in  mourn 
ing  over  errors  past,  and  would  seek  the  favor  of 
God,  you  might  be  saved.  But,  alas!  you  love  to 


LOKBAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  169 

recount  your  shameful  acts,  in  language  too  vile  to 
be  recorded.  How  disgraceful  to  a  ship's  company! 
How  corrupting  to  boys  and  apprentices!  And,  O, 
how  wicked  in  the  estimation  of  that  pure  and  holy 
Being,  who  has  said,  "Let  no  impure  communication 
proceed  from  your  lips!"  And  how  well  calculated 
is  such  a  course  to  bring  down  the  wrath  of  God, 
and  sink  ship  and  cargo,  soul  and  body,  into  a  bot 
tomless  hell! 

6.  Tale-bearing,  slander,  quarreling,  and  abuse. 
These  are  sins  of  the  tongue.  They  are  not  only 
sinful  in  themselves,  but  often  exercise  their  influence 
over  the  whole  man.  They  set  on  fire  the  whole 
course  of-  our  corrupt  nature.  "  The  poison  of  asps 
is  under  the  tongxie."  "It  is  a  deadly  evil,  which 
no  man  can  tame."  The  lion,  the  tiger,  the  shark, 

"The  fell  hyenar-feUest  of  the  fell," 

might  be  tamed;  but  the  unruly  tongue  "is  set  on 
fire  of  hell;"  who  can  tame  it?  There  is  scarcely 
any  thing  more  grievous  to  a  noble  mind,  than  to  be 
obliged  to  bear  the  inflictions  of  an  untrammeled 
tongue.  It  is  said,  a  sailor  on  board  a  man-of-war, 
was,  on  a  certain  occasion,  ordered  to  the  gangway, 
to  receive  a  flogging.  While  preparations  were  mak 
ing,  the  commander  began  to  give  him  a  severe  and 
irritating  tongue-lashing.  After  enduring  the  scold 
for  some  time,  poor  Jack  looked  up  very  pitifully  in 
his  face  and  said,  "  Commodore,  please  your  honor, 
if  you  are  going  to  flog  me,  flog  me;  but  if  you  are 
going  to  speech  me,  why  speech  me;  but  for  mercy's 
sake,  don't  speech  me  and  flog  me  both."  There 


170  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

was  so  much  good  sense  in  the  expostulation,  that 
the  commodore  smiled,  and  said,  "Loose  him,  and 
let  him  go."  There  are,  doubtless,  some  who, 
under  similar  circumstances,  would  prefer  the  flog 
ging.  But  when  a  man  abuses  one  who  is  his 
equal,  whose  hands  are  not  tied,  what  then?  It 
often  ends  in  blows — in  bloody  deeds — in  murder. 
We  were  once  lying  below  Savannah;  the  captain 
had  gone  ashore;  the  men  had  been  drinking  freely; 
and  presently  their  tongues  began  to  move  with 
great  velocity;  when,  all  at  once,  a  fight  began  all 
over  the  ship,  from  the  mate  down  to  the  steward 
and  cook.  The  consequences  were,  black  eyes  and 
bloody  noses;  and,  when  the  combat  was  over,  no 
one  on  board  could  tell  what  began  the  affray.  It 
seems  that  the  devil,  by  getting  the  command  of 
their  tongues,  a  few  moments,  set  them  all  to  fighting 
for  his  own  Satanic  amusement. 

II.  But  whence  originates  this  great  evil?  It 
does  not  take  its  rise  in  the  mere  step  of  the  tongue; 
for  if  that  slender  member  were  amputated,  and  pen, 
ink,  and  paper  were  given  to  the  sinner,  it  would 
still  be  cursing,  swearing,  slander,  abuse.  The  same 
spirit  which  once  clothed  the  tongue  with  poison  still 
reigns.  The  power  of  the  helm  is  not  inherent,  but 
may  rather  be  considered  in  the  light  of  a  reaction. 
The  ship  being  forced  through  the  water  by  the 
wind,  creates  a  pressure  of  current  on  each  side  of 
the  rudder.  This  enables  the  helmsman  to  make  it 
act  or  react  on  the  ship,  and  direct  her  in  her  course. 
So,  while  man  is  driven  by  the  winds  of  corrupt 


LORBAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  171 

nature,  and  his  own  unsanctified  will  stands  at  the 
helm,  it  is  not  wonderful  that  his  tongue  should 
react,  and  set  on  fire  his  whole  evil  nature.  So  the 
tongue  derives  its  deadly  poison  from  the  heart. 
Out  of  the  heart  proceed  lying,  cursing,  slander, 
and  every  evil  work  and  word.  "The  evil  man  out 
of  the  evil  treasure  of  his  heart  bringeth  forth  that 
which  is  evil."  His  tongue  is  an  active  agent  in 
publishing  his  shame,  and  often  drives  him  into  the 
muddy  waters  of  strife  and  contention.  Indeed,  all 
sins,  whether  of  the  tongue  or  other  members,  orig 
inate  in  the  corruption  of  the  human  heart.  This 
corruption  is  common  to  mankind.  "Whence  come 
wars  and  fighting  amongst  us?  Come  they  not 
hence  even  of  our  lust?"  Why  is  it  that  nation  is 
lifting  up  sword  against  nation?  and  sometimes  even 
the  solitude  of  the  ocean  is  interrupted  by  the  dread 
ful  roar  of  artillery,  and  the  shrieks  and  groans  of 
wounded  and  dying  seamen?  Indeed,  if  you  go 
down  below,  and  search  to  the  keel-stone  of  your 
own  character,  you  will  find  that  your  heart  is  des 
perately  wicked  and  deceitful  above  all  things. 

III.  What  remedy  is  there  for  the  evil?  We 
answer,  it  is  to  be  found  only  in  the  REDEMPTION 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  The  word  redemption  is 
often  used,  as  a  figure,  to  express  the  deliverance 
of  the  soul  from  sin;  and,  as  there  are  several  kinds 
of  literal  redemption,  it  becomes  us  to  inquire  what 
kind  is  most  expressive  of  the  sinner's  salvation. 

1.  Literal  captives  have  sometimes  redeemed  or 
delivered  themselves.  Of  this  we  might  present  a 


172  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

specimen,  which  fell  in  the  compass  of  our  own 
knowledge.  While  sailing  in  the  north  seas,  an 
American  merchantman  was  taken  by  a  Danish 
privateer.  She  hastily  thr,ew  a  prize-master  and 
crew  on  board,  and  ordered  them  into  the  first  port. 
The  Americans  were  not  confined;  and,  as  they  had 
free  intercourse  with  each  other,  the  captain  formed 
a  plan  to  retake  the  vessel.  He  charged  his  men  to 
be  always  ready,  and  that  he  would  embrace  the 
most  favorable  opportunity,  and  would  give,  as  a 
signal,  or  watchword,  "The  ship's  our  own"  Hour 
after  hour  rolled  by,  and  no  fair  opportunity  seemed 
to  present  itself.  At  last  the  destined  port  hove  in 
view.  The  ship  was  rapidly  nearing  the  harbor. 
Orders  were  given  to  overhaul  the  cable,  and  clear 
the  anchor.  The  American  ensign  was  hoisted 
under  their  national  flag.  The  Virginia  captain  bit 
his  lips.  He  cast  a  feveirsh  glance  around,  and  saw 
his  hearts  of  oak  at  their  stations,  and  their  indig 
nant  sky-lights  fastened  upon  him.  He  could  stand 
no  more,  but  bellowed  out,  in  a  voice  that  echoed 
from  stem  to  stern,  "The  ship's  our  own."  Some 
of  the  Danes,  having  an  imperfect  knowledge  of 
English,  understood  him  to  say,  "The  ship's 
aground!"  and  they  reiterated  in  their  own  tongue, 
"The  ship's  aground!  the  ship's  aground!"  These 
were  luckless  words;  for  every  Dane  ran  to  look 
over  the  sides.  The  Americans  had  meditated  a 
bloody  rescue,  and  had  stationed  a  hand  at  the  car 
penter's  chest  below  to  supply  them  with  deadly 
tools.  Not  that  they  had  any  particular  spite 


LOKRAIN'S  SEA-SEKMONS.  173 

against  their  foreign  shipmates;  but  they  were  har 
rowed  up  by  the  thought  of  a  dreary  prison.  But 
when  they  saw  the  enemy  standing  so  handy  to  blue 
water,  they  concluded  to  give  them  the  most  honor 
able  quietus  that  they  supposed  an  honest  tar  could 
look  for;  so  they  tipped  them  over  the  sides,  and 
gave  them  a  launch,  as  they  called  it,  into  "Davy 
Jones's  locker."  A  strong  and  active  American, 
according  to  contract,  gave  the  man  at  the  helm  a 
kind  of  lee-lurch  and  weather-roll,  and  sent  him 
sprawling  into  the  scuppers,  dryly  observing,  that, 
as  the  ship  had  changed  her  papers,  it  was  neces 
sary  to  relieve  the  helm,  and  he  believed  he  would 
take  the  first  trick  at  the  wheel.  As  he  said  this, 
he  cocked  his  eye  up  to  the  mizzen-peak,  where  the 
national  ensigns  were  taking  a  somerset  extraordi 
nary.  Meantime,  the  captain  spread  himself,  as 
large  as  life,  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  once  more 
cried  out,  with  an  un trammeled  tongue,  "Hard-a- 
lee,  there!  fore-sheet,  foretop-bowline,  jib,  and  stay 
sail-sheet  let  go!"  The  saucy  Eliza  sprung  at  once 
into  the  wind's  eye,  and  in  the  next  moment  was 
heard,  "Main  top -sail  haul!  board  tacks,  and  gather 
aft!"  and,  as  she  slued  her  spanker  to  the  shore,  the 
astonished  natives,  who  had  crowded  to  the  beach 
to  see  the  prize  enter,  beheld  the  bright  stars  and 
broad  stripes  of  the  United  States  flowing  over  the 
humbled  bunting  of  Denmark;  and  you  may  well 
suppose  that  the  crew  was  not  slow  in  mustering 
aft,  to  give  three  cheers,  and  then  to  break  loose, 
in  their  hearty  manner,  and  sing  in  a  stvle  such 


174  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

as  only  sailors  understand,  and  which  I  wish  it  were 
possible  my  readers  could  hear  and  feel — 

"  Stretch  her  off,  my  brave  boys ;  for  it  never  shall  be  said 
That  the  sons  of  America  were  ever  yet  afraid ; 

Stretch  her  off,  my  brave  boys !" 

The  best  of  all  is,  we  have  no  list  of  the  killed 
and  wounded  to  darken  the  incident;  for  this  curi 
ous  maneuver  took  place  almost  in  the  mouth  of  the 
harbor.  The  discharged  crew,  of  course,  took  to 
their  flippers,  and  the  Eliza  left  them  diving  and 
floundering  about,  like  a  Dutch  galiot  in  the  Bay  of 
Biscay.  Here  was  an  instance  of  captives  redeem 
ing  themselves.  But  this  is  not  our  figure. 

No  power — no  human  ingenuity — can  redeem  a 
sinner.  We  are  aware  that  this  is  saying  a  great 
deal;  for  what  is  it,  beside  this,  that  human  inge 
nuity  can  not  accomplish?  See  man,  clothed  with 
the  amazing  science  of  navigation,  pushing  off  from 
the  shores  of  his  nativity,  and,  in  a  weak  and  fragile 
bark,  standing  out  on  the  immense  ocean;  and, 
though  sun,  moon,  and  stars  may  not  be  seen  for 
many  days,  yet  he  courageously  wends  his  way  over 
foaming  billows,  and  under  thundering  clouds,  to  the 
distant  port.  His  hand  and  prowess  have  lifted  val 
leys  and  leveled  mountains.  Distance  has  con 
tracted  at  his  touch. 

"The  astonished  Euxine  hears  the  Baltic  roar; 
Proud  navies  ride  on  seas  that  never  foamed 
With  daring  keel  before." 

And  the  time  is  not  far  distant,  when  the  east  and 
the  west  shall  be  spliced  together,  and  the  Atlantic 


LORRAIX'S  SEA-SERMONS.  176 

and  Pacific  shall  bend  over  our  continent,  and  kiss 
each  other.  But  still,  there  is  a  little  sprite  in  man 
himself  which  he  can  not  conquer.  "  The  carnal 
mind  is  enmity  to  God;  is  not  subject  to  his  law; 
neither,  indeed,  can  be."  Therefore,  "the  tongue 
can  no  man  tame."  We  have  heard  of  man  pos 
sessing  certain  powers,  and  being  supplied  with  cer 
tain  means  by  which  he  can  wash  his  polluted  soul; 
and  multitudes  upon  multitudes  have  tried  those 
washings  and  penances,  pilgrimages  and  lacerations, 
witchcraft  and  holy  water;  but,  in  every  instance,  it 
has  been  a  privateersman's  wash — "three  stamps 
and  a  damn."  The  deeper  we  plunge  into  human 
lustrations,  the  more  we  stir  the  soundings,  and  the 
troubled  pool  always  casts  up  mire  and  dirt.  We 
can  not  redeem  ourselves. 

"No  running  brook,  nor  rill,  nor  sea, 
Can  wash  the  dismal  stain  away." 

2.  Sometimes  captives  have  been  recovered  by 
force.  When  a  government  has  been  robbed  of  its 
subjects,  if  that  government  can  command  a  suffi 
cient  force,  it  will  recover  its  citizens  by  the  thunder 
of  its  arms.  We  are  aware  that  some  have  applied 
this  figure  to  the  case  in  hand.  They  suppose  that 
the  whole  work  of  the  salvation  of  a  sinner  is  com 
pulsive;  and  many,  under  the  influence  of  this  faith, 
are  resting  in  sinful  inactivity,  folding  their  hands, 
and  saying  that  they  are  waiting  for  the  day  of 
God's  power,  when  he  will  sweetly  force  them  in. 
We  fear  that  some  will  thus  wait  for  the  day  of  his 
power,  and  will  never  realize  it  till  they  feel  it  in 


176  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED   CRUISER;  OR, 

awful  cataracts  of  hopeless  ruin.     The  Lord  will  not 
force  sinners  into  heaven. 

3.  Captives  are  sometimes  redeemed  by  ransom — 
by  a  price.  When  a  government  can  not  recover  its 
citizens  by  force,  it  will  ransom  them.  We  have  an 
instance  of  this  in  the  history  of  our  own  govern 
ment.  The  United  States  frigate  Philadelphia  was 
stranded  on  the  coast  of  Barbary,  and  was  taken 
possession  of  by  the  enemy.  Her  officers  and  crew 
were  taken  into  a  state  of  bitter  captivity.  The 
American  government  put  forth  the  strong  arm  of 
her  power  to  recover  them  by  force.  A  respectable 
squadron  was  sent  into  the  Mediterranean,  and  the 
land  and  naval  force  made  a  considerable  impression. 
It  was  on  this  occasion  that  Lieutenant  Decatur — 
afterward  Commodore  Decatur — with  a  valiant 
boat's  crew,  boarded  the  captured  frigate,  cleared 
her  decks  of  fifty  of  the  Barbarians,  and  set  her  on 
fire,  and  then  returned  to  his  ship  without  the  loss 
of  a  man.  It  is  probable  that,  if  the  war  had  con 
tinued,  our  prisoners  would  have  been  recovered  by 
force.  But  the  successful  afi'air  of  Decatur  so  in 
creased  the  cruelty  of  the  Tripolitans  toward  the 
prisoners,  that  it  was  thought  best  to  redeem  them 
by  ransom.  Now,  this  is  the  very  kind  of  redemp 
tion  which  bears  on  our  subject.  "We  are  not  our 
own;  but  we  are  bought  with  a  price — even  with  the 
blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a  lamb,  without  spot  or  blem 
ish."  But  is  it  asked,  "To  whom  was  this  ransom 
paid?  Was  the  precious  blood  of  Christ  poured  out 
to  the  devil,  who  had  carried  us  captive  at  his  will?" 


LOBRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  177 

We  answer,  No.  It  is  contrary  to  all  sound  theolo 
gy  to  run  figures  to  their  extremities.  For  instance, 
Christ  is  called  the  "Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah." 
This  is  to  express  his  nobility;  and  particularly  his 
great  strength,  as  he  only,  among  all  the  millions  of 
heaven,  was  able  to  break  the  seals.  But  it  would 
be  doing  violence  to  the  figure,  and  injustice  to  our 
Lord,  so  to  strain  the  type,  as  to  argue  that  Christ 
was  possessed  of  the  ravenous  and  ugly  qualities  of 
a  lion.  He  is  also  called  a  Lamb,  in  view  of  his  in 
nocence  and  atonement;  but  it  would  be  wrong  to 
carry  out  the  figure,  and  ascribe  to  him  the  igno 
rance  and  cowardice  of  a  lamb.  So  there  are  some 
things  in  a  literal  captivity  which  are  analogous  to 
the  state  of  a  sinner,  and  some  things  which  are 
not.  When  men  are  carried  captive  from  their  coun 
try,  it  is  done  by  violence,  and  Avithout  their  consent. 
Hence,  all  governments  feel  bound  to  redeem  them 
by  all  honorable  means;  yea,  even  by  force  if  they 
can.  But  man  was  not  carried  captive  by  the  devil, 
because  God  was  unable,  or  unwilling  to  defend  him. 
The  captivity  of  the  sinner  was  voluntary,  on  his 
part.  As  far  as  God  was  concerned,  it  was  judicial. 
As  man  willingly  broke  his  allegiance  to  heaven,  the 
justice  of  God  consigned  him  over  to  condemnation. 
And  the  blood  of  Christ  was  poured  out  to  the  im 
maculate  justice  of  God,  "so  that  he  might  be  just, 
and  yet  the  justifier  of  him  that  believeth  on  Jesus." 
So  far,  we  speak  of  the  general  redemption  of  Christ. 
He  has  redeemed  man  from  a  state  of  condemnation, 
and  brought  him  into  a  state  of  grace.  If  man  is 
12 


178   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

now  lost,  it  will  not  be  because  of  the  sin  of  our  first 
parents,  but  because  *'he  believeth  not."  Hence,  you 
find  there  is  a  distinction  made,  in  the  Scriptures, 
between  general  redemption,  and  final  and  eternal 
redemption.  "He  is  the  Savior  of  all  men;  but  es 
pecially  of  them  that  believe."  Through  the  propi 
tiation  of  Christ,  the  Holy  Spirit  begets  within  us 
good  desires,  and  works  with  us  when  we  have  good 
desires.  The  yielding  soul  feels  a  godly  sorrow  on 
account  of  his  sins.  He  grieves  not  so  much  on  ac 
count  of  the  consequences  of  sin,  though  they  are 
truly  appalling;  but  he  is  sorry,  because  he  has  sinned 
against  a  God  who  is  so  good — because  so  much  of 
his  precious  time  has  been  lost;  yea,  worse  than  lost. 
Under  the  influence  of  this  sorrow,  he  mourns  sore 
like  a  dove;  he  chatters  like  a  swallow.  He  believes 
on,  and  feels  a  righteous  hatred  of  sin.  Yes,  he 
hates  sin,  although  he  has  not  yet  overcome  it.  He 
is  often 

"Slain  with  the  same  unhappy  dart, 
Which,  ah,  too  oft!  has  pierced  his  heart." 

But  he  hates  his  own  ways,  and  is  angry  with  him 
self  for  having  grieved  his  Lord — for  having  grieved 
himself;  and  he  prays,  with  Jabez,  "Lord,  keep  me 
from  sin,  that  it  may  not  grieve  me."  His  faith 
leads  him  to  use  the  means  of  grace.  He  prays  fer 
vently — he  offers  up  Christ  and  him  crucified,  as  his 
morning,  noon,  and  evening  sacrifice.  He  says, 
"Lord,  here  am  I:  a  poor,  helpless,  hell-deserving 
sinner;  I  can  not  turn  one  hair  white  or  black;  I  can 
not  add  one  cubit  to  my  stature;  here  I  lie,  with  all 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  179 

my  unpardoned  sins  upon  me.  But  here  is  my  ar 
gument;  here  is  my  sacrifice — my  sin-offering — my 
Savior,  who  gave  himself  for  me — my  "Lamb,  slain 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world." 

"  'Tis  all  my  hope,  'tis  all  my  plea, 
For  me  the  Savior  died." 

And  while  thus  engaged  in  all  the  fervor  of  prayer, 
his  confidence  brightens;  power  descends.  He  be 
lieves  on,  and  in  the  strength  of  mighty  grace,  lays 
hold  by  faith,  on  the  hope  set  before  him,  and  God 
absolves  him;  for  he  has  already  declared,  that  who 
soever  believeth  in  Jesus  hath  the  remission  of  sins. 
Whom  the  Lord  justifies,  he  also  regenerates.  Re 
generation  is  a  change  of  heart — a  new  creation 
wrought  within,  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
This  sets  the  heart  right;  and,  as  a  consequence, 
our  acts  become  right — that  is,  intentionally  right. 
Our  ideas  become  right;  and,  as  words  are  signs  of 
our  ideas,  with  pure  thought  will  come  pure  words. 
And  thus  the  Lord  turns  a  pure  language  upon  our 
tongues,  even  praises  to  the  Lord. 

The  converted  soul  has  his  tongue  tamed  by  di 
vine  grace.  Hence,  the  apostle  says,  "If  any  man 
among  you  seemeth  to  be  religious,  [that  is,  professes 
much  and  is  full  of  zeal,]  and  bridleth  not  his  tongue, 
that  man's  religion  is  vain" — good  for  nothing. 
Again,  he  says,  "He  that  bridleth  his  tongue,  is 
able  to  bridle  his  whole  body."  This  means,  that 
nothing  but  divine  grace  can  sanctify  the  tongue, 
and  this  grace  can  govern  all  our  members — sanctify 
the  whole  man.  It  may  also  be  admitted  that  good 


180   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OB, 

Christians,  through  sudden  temptation,  might  be 
led,  like  Moses,  to  speak  unadvisedly  with  their 
lips;  but  none  will  be  more  sensible  of  the  error  than 
themselves.  They  will  betake  themselves  to  prayer 
and  confession,  and  cry  incessantly  to  God  till  he 
restores  their  peace. 

Now,  fellow-sinners,  you  who  are  heedless  and 
high-minded,  and  who  say,  "Our  tongues  are  our 
own;  we  will  speak  as  we  list;  and  who  shall  snub 
us?"  will  doubtless  continue  to  steer  wildly;  but 
remember,  there  will  be  a  reaction  that  will  set  on 
fire  and  burn  as  an  oven  in  the  day  of  God's  wrath. 
And  are  you  prepared  for  the  conflict — "sharp 
arrows  of  the  Mighty,  with  coals  of  juniper!"  How 
much  better  would  it  be  to  begin  to  gather  in  your 
slack,  by  exercising  repentance  toward  God  and  faith 
in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ!  But  to  those  who  sin 
cerely  desire  relief  at  the  helm,  we  present  a  bleed 
ing  Savior,  who  was  full  mighty  to  suffer — full  good 
to  redeem.  His  grace  can  bridle  our  ungodly  tongues 
and  control  our  souls  and  bodies,  and  preserve  us 
to  eternal  life.  0,  what  a  blessed  thing  it  would 
be  if  the  tongue  of  every  man,  of  every  seaman, 
were  corrected  by  grace!  Then,  instead  of  being 
found,  in  their  watches,  under  the  lee  of  the  long 
boat,  telling  foolish  stories,  and  feeding  their  super 
stition  with  tales  of  ghosts  and  hobgoblins,  they 
would  be  found  telling  their  religious  experience  and 
singing  praises  to  God.  Then,  instead  of  hearing 
the  horrid  sound  of  blasphemy  mingling  with  the 
awful  storm,  we  would  hear  the  lovelv  sacrifice  of 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  181 

praise  and  thanksgiving,  and  the  waves  would  be 
come  vocal  with  the  high  praises  of  God. 


Unruffled  by  the  breeze, 
Beneath,  the  cloudless  sky, 

The  slumb'ring  and  transparent  seas 
Deceive  the  stranger's  eye. 

But  when  the  winds  conspire 

To  rouse  the  placid  main, 
The  restless  waves  with  dirt  and  mire 

The  angry  surface  stain; 

While  o'er  the  troubled  lake 

The  foaming  surges  rise, 
And  from  the  shifting  bottom  shake 

The  soundings  to  the  skies; 

Just  so  the  human  face, 

In  tranquil  moments,  can, 
With  a  deceitful,  flattering  grace, 

Adorn  the  outward  man. 

But  when  corruption  leads, 
And  angry  passions  storm, 

Then  sinful  words  and  dismal  deeds 
The  pleasing  scene  deform. 

Look,  0,  thou  bleeding  Lamb, 

On  mortals  thus  opprest, 
Convert  the  tempest  to  a  calm. 

And  give  the  sinner  rest! 


182  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 


SERMON   VIII. 
STORM   OF   GALILEE. 

OFT  have  we  thought  on  that  frail  bark, 

That  cleft  the  waves  of  Galilee ; 
When  midnight  tempests,  fierce  and  dark, 

Poured  down  their  wrath  upon  the  sea. 

A  precious  cargo,  trembling  craft, 
Was  in  thy  narrow  steerage  stored ! 

The  Lord  himself  reclined  abaft, 
With  all  the  embryo  church  on  board. 

Was  it  a  power  malign,  that  woke 
The  foes  of  man,  in  air,  on  earth, 

To  sink,  by  one  malicious  stroke, 
The  hopeful  Gospel,  at  its  birth? 

Or  came  that  wild  blast  from  above — 

That  storm  which  none  but  Christ  could  lay- 
That,  wondering,  we  might  trust,  and  love 
The  Man  whom  winds  and  seas  obey? 

Amazing  Man,  who,  by  a  word, 
Can  chain  the  tempest  to  the  sky! 

The  angry  billows  under-gird, 
And  dare  the  uplifted  spray  to  fly ! 

And  shall  the  winds  and  waves  resign 
Their  foaming  wreaths  at  Jesus'  feet ; 

And  heaven,  and  sea,  in  silence  join, 
To  make  the  marv'lous  calm  complete? 

And  shall  our  proud,  disloyal  race, 
Disown  the  Almighty's  placid  sway : 

Be  treacherous  to  the  God  of  grace — 
The  God  whom  winds  and  seas  obey? 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  183 

"But  the  men  marveled,  saying,  What  manner  of  man  is  this, 
that  even  the  winds  and  the  seas  obey  him?"  MATTHEW  vm,  27. 

IN  reading  the  Scriptures,  it  is  of  great  moment 
that  we  understand  the  circumstances  under  which 
they  were  originally  delivered.  In  the  progress  of 
time,  many  words  have  become  materially  changed 
in  their  definition;  and  if  we  accord  to  them  the 
sense  which  they  convey  in  modern  times,  we  will 
be  sure  to  err.  When  the  modern  sailor  reads  in  his 
Bible,  that  "the  wicked  are  like  the  troubled  sea, 
whose  waters  cast  up  mire  and  dirt,"  his  mind  is 
embarrassed.  He  looks  back  over  all  his  voyages 
on  the  Atlantic,  and  other  seas,  and  can  find  nothing 
in  his  experience  analogous.  He  has  never  seen 
those  immense  bodies  of  water  discolored  with  mire 
and  dirt,  even  in  the  heaviest  gales.  He  is  tempted 
to  believe,  that,  as  the  prophet  is  so  entirely  at  fault 
in  his  figure,  he  can  not  be  inspired  by  the  God  who 
made  the  seas,  and  who  measured  out  the  waters, 
as  with  the  hollow  of  his  hands.  It  is,  then,  of  some 
consequence  for  us  to  know  that  the  word  seas  gen 
erally  means,  in  the  Bible,  the  inland  seas,  or  lakes, 
of  Palestine.  The  Mediterranean  was  generally 
known  among  the  Jews  as  the  great  sea.  Now,  those 
lakes,  in  calm  and  pleasant  weather,  were  exceed 
ingly  clear;  but  when  the  storm  was  up,  the  waters 
became  dark  and  turbid. 

It  is  necessary,  then,  in  the  elucidation  of  our 
subject,  to  remember  that  the  sea,  on  which  Christ 
and  his  disciples  had  embarked,  was  a  very  small 


184  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

sea — a  lake.  It  is  also  necessary  for  us  to  have  a 
right  understanding  of  the  ship  in  which  they  sailed. 
When  we  read  of  ships,  we  are  apt  to  associate  with 
the  term,  the  idea  of  the  heavy  merchantman,  at 
at  least,  of  our  day.  This  would  lead  us  entirely 
astray  in  the  present  case.  The  art  of  ship-building 
was  but  in  its  infancy,  in  the  time  of  our  Lord's  in 
carnation,  and  especially  in  nations  which  were  not 
of  a  commercial  order.  Indeed,  the  word  "ship," 
no  farther  back  than  the  days  of  Columbus,  meant 
much  less  than  what  it  does  now.  In  our  school-boy 
days,  we  labored  under  a  gross  deception,  in  reading 
of  the  discovery  of  America.  Columbus  was  pre 
sented  to  us  as  a  great  admiral,  with  an  imposing 
squadron  under  his  command,  launching  forth  on  the 
unmeasured  waters  of  the  west.  The  terms  used, 
the  almost  insurmountable  difficulties,  and  the  ex 
pense  incurred  in  fitting  out  his  fleet,  in  connection 
with  our  modern  view  of  things,  induced  us  to  sup 
pose  that  his  ships  were  tolerably  adapted  to  such 
an  important  enterprise.  But,  by  subsequent  and 
close  investigation,  we  have  found  that  they  were 
most  miserable  shallops.  Some  of  them  were  en 
tirely  destitute  of  decks.  Others  had  a  kind  of  a 
locker  in  the  bows,  and  a  half-deck  abaft,  while  all 
amidships  was  exposed.  Only  one  or  two  in  the 
fleet  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  a  deck,  fore  and  aft;  and 
although  they  kept  well  south,  yet  it  seems  to  be  a 
Divine  mercy  that  they  lived  across  the  seas.  If 
these  were  the  best  ships  that  commercial  Spain 
could  afford,  at  that  time,  to  make  discoveries  in  the 


LOKBAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  185 

ends  of  the  earth,  what  might  we  look  for  in  more 
remote  ages?  We  find,  on  one  occasion,  a  ship  that 
was  under  the  control  of  the  disciples,  was  so  small 
that  it  was  endangered  by  a  heavy  draught  of  fishes. 
It  is  very  probable  that  the  ship  mentioned  in  our 
context,  was  nothing  more  than  a  fishing-smack. 
The  sea  was  small,  the  ship  was  small,  and  the  crew 
was  small.  The  crew  was  not  so  small  in  regard  to 
number:  they  were  sufficient  to  man  a  merchantman 
of  ordinary  size,  in  our  day.  We  mean,  they  were 
small,  as  it  regards  their  knowledge  of  seamanship — 
they  were  fresh- water  sailors;  but  still  they  were  the 
sailors  proper,  of  God's  chosen  nation.  And  this 
consideration  ought  to  fill  sailors,  of  all  ages,  with 
an  abiding  consolation.  Our  Savior  commenced  his 
mission  on  the  sea-shore.  He  frequently  preached 
on  board  the  little  ships  of  that  day.  He  selected 
from  the  lakes  his  first  ministers.  This,  doubtless, 
astonished  the  Jerusalem  Church.  Its  dignitaries 
were  ready  to  say,  "If  this  were  the  true  Messiah, 
would  he  not  select  his  ministers  from  our  schools, 
where  we  are  training  young  men  of  noble  families 
expressly  for  the  ministry?  But  see,  he  is  drawing 
his  disciples  from  the  seas."  And  if  the  Lord  chose 
such  instruments  to  commence  the  work,  is  it  not 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  he  will  use,  to  a  consider 
able  extent,  seamen,  in  shedding  the  latter-day  glory 
over  the  earth?  And  who,  with  the  grace  of  God, 
would  be  better  qualified?  Their  daily  business, 
their  proper  avocation,  draws  them  to  every  clime. 
When,  as  a  mass,  they  become  deeply  imbued  with 


186  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

the  spirit  of  their  Master,  in  every  port  they  would 
fling  out  their  bethel-flag  on  the  winds;  and  the 
heathen  would  fall  before  the  purity  of  their  lives, 
and  acknowledge  the  Lord  in  the  midst  of  his  golden 
candlesticks.  We  believe  that  the  latter-day  glory 
is  not  far  off ;  we  believe  the  night  is  far  spent,  and 
the  day  is  at  hand. 

When  the  disciples,  on  a  certain  occasion,  were  in 
deep  affliction,  it  is  said,  "And  in  the  fourth  watch 
of  the  night,  Jesus  went  unto  them,  walking  on  the 
sea."  For  several  ages,  the  poor  sailor  has  had  it 
to  say,  "No  man  cares  for  my  soul!"  In  large  and 
splendid  cities,  on  the  sea-board — cities  built  up  on 
the  sweat,  and  tears,  and  blood,  and  dying  groans  of 
seamen — the  merchant,  who  had  fattened  on  their 
labor  and  their  lives,  would  pass  them  by  like  th* 
beasts  of  the  field.  But  God  is  waking  up  an  inter 
est  for  them.  Bethels  are  built,  chaplains  are  sent, 
tracts  are  distributed,  and  Jesus  is  walking  triumph 
antly  on  the  seas,  and  lakes,  and  rivers,  and  saying 
to  the  disconsolate  sailor,  "Be  not  afraid;  it  is  I!" 
Yes,  the  unchangeable  pilot — the  conqueror  of  stormy 
Galilee! 

When  we  represent  the  sea,  the  ship,  and  the  crew , 
as  being  small,  we  do  not  mean  to  show  that  the 
danger,  humanly  speaking,  was  small,  or  to  detract 
from  the  miracle.  On  the  contrary,  these  circum 
stances  increased  the  danger,  and  consequently 
magnified  the  miracle.  Any  experienced  sailor, 
who  has  traversed  our  western  lakes,  knows  that,  in 
extra  storms,  they  are  more  dangerous  than  the  open 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  187 

ocean,  where  there  is  more  ample  searoom.  The 
smallness  of  the  vessel,  in  which  the  whole  Christian 
Church  had  embarked,  with  our  Savior,  increased 
the  danger,  speaking  after  the  manner  of  men;  for 
we  must  remember,  that  while  the  works  of  men — 
ship-building,  etc. — are  susceptible  of  vast  improve 
ment,  the  works  of  God  are  the  same  in  all  ages. 
The  storm  that  fell  on  the  lake  was,  doubtless,  as 
terrific,  the  lightning  flashed  as  fierce,  the  thunder 
pealed  .as  loud,  and  the  wind  swept  as  resistless,  as 
in  modern  times.  All  hope  of  being  saved  was 
taken  away. 

Even  the  consideration  of  their  having  put  out  at 
the  command  of  Christ,  and  their  being  exactly  in 
thejDath  of  duty,  did  not  seem  to  yield  them  that 
comfort  which  might  have  been  expected.  Just  so 
it  is,  often,  with  Christians  in  our  day.  Sometimes 
tfhen  they  engage  in  pious  enterprises,  evidently 
obeying  the  openings  of  divine  Providence,  if  circum 
stances  seem  to  be  adverse — if  Providence  appears 
to  frown,  they  are  too  apt  to  become  discouraged, 
and  to  forgeit  that  they  are  in  the  way  of  duty.  We 
might  illustrate  this  by  a  simple  fact.  Some  years 
since,  the  way  was  opened  to  establish  a  mission  in 
Africa.  As  fast  as  we  sent  out  our  missionaries, 
they  took  the  fevers  of  the  country  and  died.  Our 
Church,  generally,  became  discouraged,  and  were 
ready  to  say,  "The  time — the  set  time  to  favor  Af 
rica,  is  not  yet  come;  or,  if  it  is  come,  the  Lord  will 
not  send  by  us."  But  just  then  the  pious  and  devo 
ted  Cox  fell  at  his  post.  But,  as  he  was  surrounded 


188  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OB, 

with  weeping  friends,  he  whispered  with  a  faint, 
but  firm  voice,  "Let  a  hundred  missionaries  fall,  but 
let  Africa  be  redeemed."  The  Church  caught  the 
watchword.  It  ran  all  along  her  decks,  from  stem 
to  taffrail.  The  old  ship  Zion  sprung  her  luff,  and 
bounded  on  with  increasing  speed.  Interior  tribes 
and  nations  are  now  spreading  out  their  hands,  and 
exclaiming  in  tears,  "O,  send  us  the  God-man,  that 
he  may  show  to  us  the  way  of  salvation!"  How 
appropriate  is  the  language  of  the  Christian  poet,  in 
all  such  cases: 

"Ye  fearful  saints,  fresh  courage  take; 

The  clouds  ye  so  much  dread 
Are  big  with  mercy,  and  shall  break 
In  blessings  on  your  head. 

Judge  not  the  Lord  by  feeble  sense, 

But  trust  him  for  his  grace ;  \ 

Behind  a  frowning  providence 

He  hides  a  smiling  face." 

The  disciples,  however,  in  their  deep  distress,  re 
posed  some  confidence  in  Christ,  and,  calling  on  him 
rather  rudely,  said,  "Master,  carest  thou  not  that 
we  perish?"  How  much  was  this  like  their  fathers, 
who,  hi  their  distress,  said  to  Moses,  "Were 
there  no  graves  in  Egypt,  that  thou  hast  brought  us 
out  into  the  wilderness  to  perish?"  The  Savior 
arose,  and  looking,  we  fancy,  mildly  on  the  flashing 
clouds,  and  foaming  surges,  and  wild  misrule  that 
raved  around,  he  said,  with  all  the  majesty  and  dig 
nity  of  a  God,  'iPeace!  be  still!"  In  a  moment  the 
tempest  fled,  and  the  angry  billows  crouched  at  his 
feet,  and  there  was  a  great  calm.  This  was  no 


LOKRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  189 

gradual  cessation  of  the  gale.  In  such  a  case,  the 
troubled  waves  would  have  rolled  for  hours.  But 
the  Lord  spake  to  the  clouds  and  to  the  seas,  in  all 
their  rage  of  tempest,  and  turned  the  storm  itself 
into  a  fearful  calm. 

And  the  men  marveled. 

I.  They  marveled  at  the  miracle:  "The  winds  and 
the  seas  obey  him."  They,  doubtless,  felt  that  it 
was  the  greatest  miracle  that  Christ  ever  wrought. 
With  the  Lord,  one  miracle  can  not  be  greater  than 
another.  The  reason  why  the  disciples  marveled  so 
greatly  at  this  miracle,  was  because  they  were  so 
deeply  and  personally  interested  in  it.  They  had  seen 
him  open  the  eyes  of  the  blind,  and  the  blind  mar 
veled  greatly;  but  they  had  never  been  blind;  they  had 
never  experienced  that  state  of  loneliness  and  desti 
tution.  They  had  seen  him  raise  the  dead;  but  they 
Lad  never  been  confined  to  the  dampness  of  the 
grave.  This  miracle  was  for  their  own  deliverance. 
They  were  hovering  over  the  deeps  of  eternity,  an 
inch-plank  between  them  and  death,  when  Christ,  by 
a  sudden  subversion  of  the  laws  of  nature,  snatched 
them  from  a  watery  grave.  Even  so  it  is  now;  an 
individual  will  greatly  marvel  at  some  special  deliv 
erance  which  he  has  experienced,  while  others  will 
hardly  have  patience  to  hear  him  tell  it.  Again: 
some  will  laud  the  mercy  of  God,  because  he  has 
saved  them  through  a  dreadful  storm;  while  others, 
who  have  had  a  fair  passage,  scarcely  think  of  his 
mercy,  though  they  have  been  the  recipients  of 
larger  benevolence.  Surely,  it  is  more  merciful  and 


190  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

benevolent  to  save  us  from  a  storm  than  to  save  us 
in  a  storm. 

II.  They  marveled  at  his  character:  "Behold 
what  manner  of  man  is  this!"  And  well  they  might 
wonder.  True,  he  is  a  man — very  man;  yet  is  he 
iinlike  all  other  men  who  have  been,  or  ever  will  be. 

1.  He  was  not  defiled  with  original  sin.     He  was 
not  born  in  the  sinful  likeness  of  Adam.     He  was 
not  of  him  by  lineal  descent.     Our  Savior  himself 
asked  the  Jews  why  they  called  Christ  the  Son  of 
David,  when  David  says,  in  the  book  of  Psalms, 
"The  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit  on  my  right  hand 
until   I   make  thine  enemies   my  footstool."     "If 
David  called  him  Lord,"  said  he,  "how  then  is  he 
his  son?"     It  is  true  that  his  virgin  mother  was  of 
the  house  of  David;  but  the  Holy  Ghost  came  upon 
her,  and  the  power  of  the  Most  High  overshadowed 
her,  and  that  holy  One,  who  was  born  of  her,  was 
called  the  Son  of  God.     As  it  regards  all  other  men, 
they  are  conceived  in  sin  and  born  in  iniquity — 

"  Sprung  from  the  man,  whose  guilty  fall 
Corrupts  his  race,  and  taints  us  all." 

2.  He  was  clear  of  actual  transgression.     To  this 
point  we  have  the  testimony  of  his  friends — inspired 
friends.     They  say  he  was  holy,  pure,  undefiled, 
and  separate  from  sinners.     He  had  done  no  vio 
lence;  neither  was  any  guile  found  in  his  mouth. 
Pontius  Pilate  entered  into  a  strict  examination  of 
his  character;  and,  although  he  would  have  been 
pleased  to  have  found  something  in  him  worthy  of 
death,  according  to  the  Roman  law — for  Pilate  loved 


LOEBAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  191 

popularity — yet  he  was  compelled,  by  a  sense  of  jus 
tice,  to  render  a  favorable  verdict:  "  I  find  no  fault 
in  this  man."  Yes;  Christ  is  the  only  perfect  exam 
ple,  as  a  man,  that  is  given  us  in  the  Bible.  True, 
there  is  mention  made,  in  that  blessed  volume,  of 
some  of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy.  The 
Lord  passes  a  high  encomium  on  Moses,  when  he 
says,  "He  was  meek  above  all  men;"  but  Moses  is 
not  a  safe  exemplar,  because  he  sinned  in  offending 
the  Lord  at  the  waters  of  Meribah,  and  God  declared 
that  he  should  not  enter  into  Canaan.  Again: 
David  was  said  to  be  a  man  after  God's  own  heart. 
This  was  his  general  character;  but  the  Holy  Spirit 
makes  an  exception  in  the  case  of  Uriah.  When 
we  come  down  to  the  New  Testament,  who  does  not 
admire  the  frankness  and  zeal  of  Peter?  Yet,  on 
one  occasion,  he  denied  the  Lord  who  bought  him, 
and  swore  like  a  privateer's  man,  to  convince  the 
enemies  of  Christ  that  he  knew  not  the  man.  It  is 
of  Christ  only  that  it  can  be  truly  said,  that  "we 
find  no  fault  in  this  man."  He  only  is  our  pattern — 
our  standard.  The  proper  measure  of  a  perfect 
man  is  the  fullness  of  the  stature  of  Christ  Jesus  in 
his  faultless  humanity.  But  where  is  the  man,  born 
of  Adam,  who  has  no  actual  sins — no  personal  and 
willful  transgressions? 

3.  He  is  different  from  other  men,  inasmuch  as  he 
was  not  naturally  subject  to  death.  Death  had  no 
dominion  over  him.  He  was  made  accordino-  to  the 

o 

power  of  an  endless  life.  He  said  himself,  a  little 
before  his  crucifixion,  "  No  man  taketh  my  life  from 


192  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OB, 

me.  I  have  power  to  lay  it  down,  and  I  have  power 
to  take  it  up  again;  and  this  power  have  I  received 
from  my  Father."  There  was  an  extraordinary 
power  necessary  to  separate  his  soul  and  body.  The 
circumstances  of  his  crucifixion  coincide  with  this 
doctrine.  When  he  had  fulfilled  all  that  was  written 
of  him,  he  cried  out,  with  a  loud  voice,  and  gave  up 
the  ghost.  It  was  not  the  feeble  voice  of  human 
expiration;  but  he  cried  so  loud  that  the  Roman 
officer  acknowledged  him  to  be  the  Son  of  God. 
Some  of  our  commentators  have  it,  "He  dismissed 
his  spirit."  All  other  men  are  subject  to  death. 
By  one  man's  disobedience  sin  came  into  the  world, 
and  death  by  sin;  and  so  death  hath  passed  upon 
all  men.  And  why?  Because  all  have  sinned. 
But  Christ  never  sinned;  therefore,  it  was  necessary 
for  him  to  receive  power  to  lay  down  his  life. 
Again:  we  might  ask,  how  came  it  to  pass  that  the 
criminals  lived  longer  than  Christ?  They  were 
sinking  by  natural  exhaustion.  Some  lived  on  the 
cross  for  several  days.  The  breaking  of  their  legs 
was  intended  to  hasten  their  death.  It  is  also  ex 
pressly  said,  that  when  the  body  of  Christ  was 
requested  of  Pilate,  "he  marveled  if  he  were  already 
dead."  It  was  so  unusual  for  one  to  die  so  soon  by 
crucifixion,  that  Pilate  sent  for  the  centurion  to  assure 
himself  of  the  fact  before  granting  the  request. 
Christ  dismissed  his  spirit.  As  the  cork  is  forced, 
by  some  foreign  power,  many  a  fathom  below  the 
surface  of  the  deep,  and,  as  soon  as  that  force  is 
removed,  bounds,  by  its  own  buoyancy,  to  the  light, 


LORBAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  193 

so  did  our  blessed  Redeemer  force  himself  into  the 
dark  domains  of  death;  and,  on  the  glorious  morning 
of  the  third  day,  he  arose,  in  the  strength  and  power 
of  his  own  divinity,  to  a  newness  of  life.  It  is  true 
that  the  Jews,  as  far  as  their  intention  and  malice 
were  concerned,  did  slay  the  Lord  of  life  and  glory; 
but,  as  far  as  Christ  was  concerned,  he  did  emphat 
ically  give  himself  for  us.  He  offered  up  himself. 

4.  He  was  diverse  from  other  men,  because  he 
was  a  God-man — a  Divine  personage.  In  him  dwelt 
all  the  fullness  of  the  Godhead,  bodily.  It  is  a  suf 
ficient  evidence  of  his  divinity,  that  the  "winds  and 
the  seas  obey  him;"  for  when  did  the  winds  and  the 
seas  ever  harken  to  the  voice  of  a  mere  man?  Men 
have  been  so  presumptuous  and  impudent  as  to  make 
the  experiment,  but  have  signally  failed.  The  idi 
otic  and  inflated  Xerxes,  when  heading  an  army  suf 
ficient  to  populate  a  new  world,  flew  into  a  transport 
of  passion,  because  a  storm  prevented  his  crossing 
an  arm  of  the  sea;  and  he  ordered  chains  and  fetters 
to  be  cast  into  the  sea,  and  decreed  that  she  should 
receive  a  severe  flogging  for  crossing  his  great  de 
signs.  But  while  his  officers  were  executing  the 
sentence,  the  sportive  billows  still  clapped  their 
foaming  hands,  as  if  in  derision,  and  the  laughing 
winds  flirted  the  spoon-drift  in  his  face. 

Inspired  men  have  performed  miracles  on  water, 
in  the  name  and  by  the  command  of  God.  When 
the  Israelites  were  pursued  by  the  Egyptians,  and 
were  hemmed  in  on  every  side,  Moses,  at  the  com 
mand  of  Heaven,  stood  on  the  shore  of  the  Red 
13 


194    THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

Sea,  and  calmed  the  tumult  of  the  people,  by  saying, 
"Stand  still,  and  see  the  salvation  of  God!"  The 
salvation  of  God.  But  our  Savior  invoked  no  name: 
"Peace,  be  still!"  and  straight  "air,  sea,  and  ship 
were  hushed  at  once." 

Indeed,  all  insentient  and  unintelligent  creation 
obey  the  Lord.  The  planets,  in  their  courses  and 
revolutions,  instinctive  animals,  and  winds  and  seas, 
fulfill  his  high  designs.  They  not  only  do  so  by 
strict  obedience  to  the  general  laws  of  nature,  as 
some  are  pleased  to  say,  who  are  too  proud  or  too 
modest  to  make  mention  of  the  Lord,  but  they  some 
times  miraculously  obey,  by  stepping  aside  from  their 
ordinary  course. 

In  the  first  miracle  which  our  Lord  wrought,  we 
have  a  remarkable  instance  of  prompt  obedience  in 
a  senseless  element.  When  his  mother  informed 
him  that  the  wine  had  failed,  he  commanded  the 
servants  to  fill  the  jars  with  water;  and,  as  he 
told  them  to  draw  and  bear  to  the  governor  of  the 
feast,  the  limpid  and  tasteless  water  blushed  into  the 
most  delicious  wine.  Here  we  must  be  allowed  a 
digression.  It  is  well  known  that  dissipated  charac 
ters,  and  those  who  are  fond  of  their  cups,  exult 
greatly  in  the  fact  that  our  Lord  exerted  his  almighty 
power  in  making  wine.  Let  it  be  remembered  that 
the  wine  which  our  Savior  made  was  a  pure  article — 
the  best  wine,  as  the  wedding  guests  aptly  called  it. 
It  was  the  pure  and  unfermented  juice  of  the  grapes, 
which  was  esteemed,  by  the  Jews,  as  the  best  kind 
of  wine.  This  must  be  so,  in  the  very  nature  of 


LOREAIK'S  SEA-SERMONS.  195 

things.  God  is  perfect,  and  when  he  creates  things 
he  creates  them  perfect.  At  the  close  of  the  crea 
tion-week,  he  pronounced  all  that  he  had  made 
"good."  No  man  supposes  that  there  were  old 
stumps  or  rotten  trunks  to  be  found  in  the  forests. 
No  man  supposes  that  man  and  beast  were  infected 
with  distempers.  Such  an  idea  would  cast  a  reflec 
tion  on  the  Almighty.  Now,  fermented  or  intoxi 
cating  liquor  is  in  an  imperfect  state.  Decomposi 
tion  or  corruption  has  begun.  Men  may  arrest  the 
liquor,  in  this  state,  to  serve  their  lusts;  but  it  is 
highly  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  Christ  made 
wine  in  this  vitiated  or  spoiled  state.  In  wine  coun 
tries,  great  pains  are  taken  to  preserve  the  juice  of 
the  grape  in  its  unadulterated  state;  and  it  is  not 
only  called  wine,  but,  by  sober  people,  the  best 
wine.  However,  we  bring  this  case  to  show  how 
water  obeys  the  Lord. 

In  another  case  our  Lord  was  obeyed  by  a  fig 
tree.  One  morning  he  saw  a  fig  tree  by  the  way 
side.  Its  foliage  was  luxuriant  and  green,  and  Christ 
sought  fruit  on  it,  but  found  none.  He  knew,  in 
deed,  before  he  sought;  but  he  made  this  an  occa 
sion  to  instruct  his  disciples,  and  to  show  them  the 
power  of  faith.  Finding  no  fruit,  he  said,  "No  man 
eat  fruit  of  this  tree,  hereafter,  forever  and  ever!" 
At  this  Divine  command,  given  to  the  fig  tree,  in  all 
the  meridian  of  its  verdure,  it  yielded  up  its  vitality, 
root,  trunk,  and  branches,  and  withered  away. 

Our  Lord  exercised  a  like  control  over  the  brute 
creation.  When  making  his  triumphant  entry  into 


196  THE  SQUARB-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OB, 

Jerusalem,  his  disciples  brought  him  an  ass.  We 
are  expressly  told  that  it  was  an  unbroken  animal, 
on  which  no  man  had  ever  set.  Although  it  was  an 
exciting  and  tumultuous  time,  the  whole  multitude, 
going  before  and  following  after,  clapping  their 
hands,  waving  their  branches,  and  crying,  "Ho- 
sanna  to  the  son  of  David,  who  cometh  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord!"  yet  did  this  untamed,  unbridled  ani 
mal  carefully  carry  our  Savior  through  the  convulsed 
city  and  shouting  multitude — "for  the  whole  city  was 
moved" — even  to  the  gates  of  the  temple. 

The  fish  that  brought  the  tribute  money  to  Peter, 
as  well  as  the  multitu.de  that  were  afterward  taken 
in  the  net,  obeyed  the  Lord.  Our  text  says  that  the 
"winds  and  the  seas  obeyed  him." 

III.  There  are  several  important  doctrines  which 
might  be  advantageously  viewed  in  the  light  of  our 
subject. 

1 .  The  will  of  man.  We  do  not  say  the  freedom 
of  the  will,  although  that  erroneous  expression,  in 
theology,  has  been  almost  canonized  by  the  consent 
of  ages. 

The  reason  why  the  planets,  and  all  the  heavenly 
bodies,  and  the  winds  obey  the  Lord,  is  because  they 
are  compelled  by  the  sovereign  power  of  God.  He 
has  established  laws  of  attraction  and  repulsion, 
which  they  can  not  resist.  Hence,  they  render  an 
unceasing  and  strict  obedience;  they  never  err.  If 
men  were  governed  in  this  way,  they,  too,  would 
render  a  faultless  obedience,  because  all  their 
thoughts  and  acts  would  be  under  the  Divine 


LOKRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  197 

control.  But,  seeing  that  there  are  some  men  who 
obey  God,  and  some  who  obey  him  not,  we  readily 
conclude  that  man  is  a  free  agent. 

Those  who  take  it  for  granted  that  there  is  a  strict 
agreement  between  God's  government  in  the  province 
of  nature  and  his  rule  in  the  kingdom  of  grace,  are 
greatly  in  fault.  They  argue  loosely,  and  irrespect 
ive  of  sound  logic,  who  say,  that  because  the  Lord, 
in  the  exercise  of  his  sovereignty,  rains  on  one  por 
tion  of  the  earth,  and  abandons  another  to  drought, 
therefore,  he  pours  the  blessing  of  salvation  on  one 
man,  and  the  fire  of  his  wrath  upon  another.  These 
two  departments  of  God's  work  are  entirely  distinct 
in  their  character  and  destiny.  The  one  is  material 
and  perishing,  the  other  moral  and  immortal.  It 
would  be  as  contrary  to  the  economy  of  Heaven,  to 
govern  man  by  force,  as  to  govern  the  winds  and 
the  seas  by  the  ten  commandments.  All  the  com 
mandments,  precepts,  doctrines,  promises,  and 
threatenings,  of  the  Bible,  go  on  the  supposition 
that  man  possesses  the  fearful  power  of  choice,  as 
far  as  is  necessary  to  his  salvation.  It  is  true,  the 
Lord  does  curb  "his  will,  and  restrain  his  wrath,  to 
subserve  his  own  purposes. 

2.  In  the  light  of  our  subject,  we  see  the  neces 
sity  of  the  judgment  day.  If  we  were  governed  as 
the  winds  and  the  seas,  by  irresistible  power,  there 
would  be  no  propriety  in  our  being  called  into  judg 
ment.  If  a  preacher  should  go  through  the  country, 
proclaiming  that,  on  a  certain  day,  the  Lord  would 
call  to  judgment  the  "winds  and  seas,"  and  bring 


198  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

them  to  an  account  for  all  the  mischief  they  have 
done — for  their  wholesale  murders  and  wanton  de 
struction  of  property,  would  not  the  people  gener 
ally  regard  him  as  a  madman?  What!  sit  in  judg 
ment  on  the  senseless  elements,  for  doing  what  they 
were  compelled  to  do? 

But  when  we  preach  that  God  has  appointed  a 
day  in  which  he  will  sit  in  judgment  on  the  human 
family,  it  recommends  itself  to  every  man's  judg 
ment  and  conscience,  in  the  sight  of  God.  All  hu 
man  legislation  is  founded  on  the  supposition,  that 
offenders  could  have  done  otherwise.  The  discipline 
of  all  Churches  recognize  this  truth.  And  surely 
there  is  a  necessity  for  a  judgment  to  come.  There 
are  many  deep-hidden  crimes,  which  no  human  laws, 
civil  or  ecclesiastical,  can  reach.  A  man  may  se 
cretly  defraud  the  orphan  of  his  rights,  and  that 
orphan  suffer  extraordinary  evils  through  life,  as  a 
consequence;  and  yet  the  unpunished  monster  may 
even  push  into  the  sanctuary  of  the  Lord,  and  put 
on  "the  livery  of  a  saint,  to  serve  the  devil  in." 
Yes,  there  must  be  a  grand  court  of  equity,  where 
God  himself  will  right  all  the  wrongs  that  have  been 
unjustly  inflicted  on  the  unfortunate. 

3.  The  doctrine  of  rewards  may  be  boldly  asserted 
in  the  light  of  our  subject.  What  rational  man 
would  think  of  rewarding,  or  inflicting  punishment, 
on  the  winds  and  the  waves?  When  the  first  steam- 
packet  from  Europe  arrived  in  America,  would  it 
not  have  been  ridiculously  absurd  for  the  citizens  to 
have  marched  in  procession,  and  put  a  crown  upon 


LOKRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  199 

her  prow,  inviting  her  to  a  splendid  entertainment, 
as  a  reward  for  having  crossed  the  Atlantic  on  a  new 
principle?  We  do  not  say  that  eternal  Power  could 
not  force  man  into  heaven.  But  in  that  case,  would 
it  bring  any  happiness  to  man,  or  glory  to  God?  It 
might  be  said,  "  Ye  are  all  here;  but  how  came  ye 
here?"  and  it  might  be  answered — if  souls  thus 
cramped  could  answer — "because  we  could  not  help 
it."  How  different  from"  this  will  it  be,  when  the 
whole  redeemed,  free  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  shall 
voluntarily  and  joyfully  exclaim,  "Unto  him  who 
hath  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins,  in  his 
own  blood,  be  glory,  and  honor,  and  dominion  for 
ever  and  ever!  Amen." 

The  winds,  the  seas,  the  planets,  and  the  brute 
creation,  obey  God;  but  in  the  midst  of  all  this  har 
mony  of  obedience,  and  concert  of  loyalty,  the  sin 
ner — man,  rebels  against  his  God!  It  may  be  said, 
"Yes,  but  they  are  compelled  to  obey  God."  True, 
but  there  lies  the  burning  shame.  Man  is  the  only 
creature  on  earth,  who  has  the  exalted  privilege  *bf 
obeying  God  with  a  glad  heart,  and  with  a  willing 
mind;  but,  alas!  he  is  the  only  one  who  rebels. 

This  is  the  more  humbling,  when  we  reflect  that 
the  sinner,  by  obeying  God,  and  believing  on  him, 
with  a  heart  to  righteousness,  would  come  undei 
the  influence  of  a  power  as  divine  as  that  which 
moves  the  planets,  even  the  sweet  power  of  grace, 
which  is  as  coercive  as  the  attributes  of  God,  the 
plan  of  salvation,  and  the  moral  agency  of  man  will 
admit  of. 


200  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

• 

4.  If  the  winds  and  the  seas  obey  Christ,  with 
what  confidence  may  we  address  a  throne  of  grace 
and  mercy  in  storms  and  times  of  imminent  dan 
ger!  The  most  pleasant  passage  I  ever  had,  was  in 
a  trip  from  New  York  to  Orleans.  The  passengers 
weYe  mostly  religious;  and  we  had  prayers  on  board 
regularly,  morning  and  night.  On  the  Sabbath,  we 
assembled  in  the  steerage,  read  one  of  Wesley's  ser 
mons,  and  closed  with  devotional  exercises.  We 
had  fair  winds  and  smooth  seas  all  the  way,  and 
made  an  extraordinarily  short  passage.  Indeed,  it 
seemed  as  if  we  had  every  thing  which  we  asked 
for.  Many  have,  in  answer  to  prayer,  been  saved 
from  shipwreck.  We  do  not  mean  that  God  will 
always  save  his  children  from  disasters,  in  answer 
to  prayer.  The  Lord  might  choose  to  remove  his 
people  sometimes  by  storms,  as  well  as  by  diseases. 

"  A  thousand  ways  has  Providence 
To  bring  believers  home." 

But  we  should  be  resigned,  if  it  be  God's  will,  to 
gather  our  sea-weeds  around  us,  and  sink  upon  our 
coral-bed.  In  death's  last  struggle,  let  us  remem 
ber  that  the  winds  and  the  seas  must  obey  him; 
and  that  the  hour  is  coming,  in  which  he  will  com 
mand  the  mighty  ocean  to  give  up  her  dead.  She 
will  obey,  and  roll  her  millions  to  the  shore. 


There's  not  a  thing  beneath  the  concave  sky, 
The  sparkling  arch  of  earth's  vast  canopy, 
But  what  is  governed,  or  directed  by 
The  unerring  power  of  the  Deity. 


LORKAIN'S  SKA-SERMONS.  201 

The  twinkling  stars,  which  in  such  beauty  roll 

Their  blazing  splendors  o'er  either  pole, 

And,  with  an  anxious  trembling,  seem  to  guard 

A  slumbering  hemisphere — a  dreaming  ward, 

Are,  by  attractive  and  repulsive  force, 

Confined  to  one,  perpetual,  circling  course : 

Yet  Heaven's  established  laws  provide  them  room, 

And  world  with  world  in  contact  can  not  come, 

Or  with  a  loose,  digressive  reel,  invade 

The  smallest  satellite  that  God  has  made. 

The  fowls  of  heaven  their  smallest  duties  eye — 

Can  raise  their  young — can  teach  them  how  to  fly. 

The  ox.  his  owner  knows,  and  with  him  shares 

The  toil  and  produce  of  revolving  years. 

The  heavens  and  seas  in  angry  conflict  meet ; 

Christ  speaks !  they  crouch  and  fondle  at  his  feet. 

And  shall  proud  man,  who,  through  God's  mercy,  plies 

The  loftiest  intellect  beneath  the  skies — 

Who  bears  Jehovah's  likeness,  and  can  will 

To  choose  the  good,  and  to  reject  the  ill — 

Shall  he,  alone,  in  wild  rebellion  rise, 

And  dare  the  God  who  rules  the  seas  and  skies? 

No :  let  him  rather  bend  his  adverse  will, 

And  calm  his  soul,  when  Jesus  says,  "BE  STILL!" 


BY    CHARLES    WESLEY. 

Glory  to  thee,  whose  powerful  word 
Bids  the  tempestuous  winds  arise ; 

Glory  to  thee,  the  sov'reign  Lord 
Of  air,  and  earth,  and  seas,  and  skies. 

Let  air,  and  earth,  and  skies  obey, 
And  seas  thine  awful  will  perform: 

From  them  we  learn  to  own  thy  sway, 
And  shout  to  meet  the  gathering  storm. 

What  though  the  floods  lift  up  their  voice  I 
Thou  nearest,  Lord,  our  louder  cry; 

They  can  not  damp  thy  children's  joys, 
Or  shake  the  soul  when  God  is  nigh. 


202  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

Headlong  we  cleave  the  yawning  deep, 
And  back  to  highest  heaven  are  borne, 

Unmoved,  though  rapid  whirlwinds  sweep, 
And  all  the  watery  world  upturn. 

Hoar  on,  ye  waves;  our  souls  defy 
Your  roaring  to  disturb  our  rest; 

In  vain  to  break  the  calm  ye  try — 
The  calm  in  the  believer's  breast. 

Rage,  while  our  faith  the  Savior  tries, 
Thou  sea,  the  servant  of  his  will ; 

Rise,  while  our  God  permits  thee,  rise; 
But  fall,  when  he  shall  say,  "BE  STILL'" 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  203 


SERMON    IX. 

SOTJLWRECK. 

DECEITFUL  is  the  breeze, 

And  placid  is  the  swell ; 
Strong  is  the  current,  smooth  the  seas, 

That  lead  to  death  and  hell. 

We  need  not  crowd  our  sail, 

Nor  labor  to  go  wrong ; 
The  wind  and  current  will  not  fail 

To  drive  our  barks  along. 

But  when  we  shape  our  course 
For  heaven's  delightful  shores, 

We  then  begin  to  feel  the  force 
Of  wind  and  water  foes. 

Our  nature's  rapid  stream 

Augments  its  mighty  force, 
While  all  the  powers  of  darkness  seem 

To  stretch  athwart  our  course. 

Our  stormy  passions  blow; 

Our  fairest  prospects  frown; 
While  winds  aloft  and  waves  below 

Conspire  to  bear  us  down. 

But  we  who  do  oppose 

The  tempest  and  the  tide, 
At  last  shall  weather  all  our  foes, 

And  every  gale  outride. 

We'll  soon  the  current  leave, 

And  softer  breezes  find ; 
We'll  all  our  stud-sail  halyards  reeve, 

And  scud  before  the  wind. 

The  service  of  the  Lord 

Will  then  be  our  delight, 
While  Christ  himself  will  come  on  board, 

And  Canaan  heave  in  sight. 


204  THE  SQUARE-  RIGGED  CKUISER;  OR, 

"  Holding  faith,  and  a  good  conscience ;  which  some  having  put 
away  concerning  faith  have  made  shipwreck,"  1  TIM.  i,  19. 

IT  is  a  very  easy  thing  for  souls  to  travel  to  de 
struction.  When  a  ship  has  the  wind  and  current 
setting  toward  the  place  of  her  destination,  it  is 
quite  easy  sailing.  She  need  not  crowd  much  can 
vas;  for,  if  every  sail  was  furled,  and  she  laid  under 
bare  poles,  the  wind  and  current  would  bear  her 
along,  so  that,  in  process  of  time,  she  would  reach 
her  port.  Thus  it  is-with  the  wicked.  They  need 
not  crowd  sail,  as  though  greedy  of  ruin.  They  need 
not  heap  up  wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath,  by 
indulging  in  extraordinary  crimes.  If  they  only 
fold  their  arms,  and  lie  upon  their  oars,  and  do  noth 
ing  at  all,  they  will  drift  swiftly  down  the  current 
of  human  depravity  to  hell,  as  fast  as  all  the  deceit- 
fulness  of  the  devil  can  waft  them  along.  It  is  a 
more  difficult  task  to  sail  heavenward.  When  a 
ship  has  both  the  tide  and  wind  in  her  teeth,  she 
will  have  to  brace  sharp  up  and  beat  hard.  The 
children  of  God  have  to  stem  the  powerful  tide  of 
natural  depravity.  They  have  to  fight  and  cut  their 
passage  through  all  the  fleet  of  hell.  Sometimes 
their  nearest  friends  desert,  and  their  enemies  unite 
against  them.  Hence,  our  Savior  says,  "Strive  to 
enter  in,"  and,  "The  kingdom  of  heaven  suffers 
violence,  and  the  violent  take  it  by  force"  A  num 
ber  of  vessels  may  sail  for  the  same  port;  and, 
although  they  may  all  work  by  the  same  rules,  and 
use  the  same  kind  of  instruments  of  navigation,  yet 
the  history  of  their  respective  voyages  may  be 


LOBEAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  205 

widely  different.  One  may  enjoy  a  fair  and  unin 
terrupted  breeze  throughout  the  whole  passage,  and 
may  meet  with  no  disaster  to  darken  the  pages  of 
her  log-book.  Another  may  be  harassed  with  a 
succession  of  calms  and  light  and  variable  winds. 
Another  may  drive  through  storms  and  calamities 
the  most  distressing,  and  arrive  at  last,  almost  a 
perfect  wreck.  Some  may  fall  in  with  pirates  and 
enemies,  or  be  reduced  almost  to  starvation,  while 
others  may  make  a  voyage  which  will  be  equally 
checkered  with  prosperity  and  adversity.  So  it  is 
with  Christians.  They  all  sail  from  the  shores  of 
depravity,  laden  with  grace,  and  bound  for  glory. 
They  all '  exercise  evangelical  repentance,  and, 
through  faith,  receive  the  remission  of  sins.  They 
are  all  washed  and  sanctified  by  the  blood  of  the 
cross;  enjoy  the  same  sacraments;  follow  the  same 
chart — the  Holy  Bible — use  the  same  means  of 
grace;  and,  although  some  may  carry,  as  a  private 
signal,  the  jack  of  Wesley,  and  some  the  jack  of 
Calvin,  yet,  blessed  be  God!  they  all  have  the  ensign 
of  Christ  nailed  to  the  peak;  and  while  they  steer 
for  the  same  harbor,  the  pennant  of  the  merciful 
Jehovah  waves  over  all.  But,  notwithstanding,  be 
fore  they  arrive  at  the  destined  port,  there  will  be  a 
wonderful  diversity  in  their  experience.  Some  may 
run  down  the  pleasant  trade-winds  of  grace,  while 

"Not  a  cloud  may  arise  to  darken  the  skies, 
Or  hide,  for  a  moment,  the  Lord  from  their  eyes." 

Others  may  have  a  passage  of  storms  and  tempta 
tions,  or  pine  away  in  poverty  and  short  allowance, 


206  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

and  reach  home  by  the  hardest  struggle.  Others, 
again,  robbed  and  scathed  by  the  sharks  and  pirates 
of  hell,  may  come  booming  in,  under  storm-stay 
sails,  almost  bereft  of  rigging,  sails,  and  mast;  but 
better  enter  heaven  stripped  and  dismantled  than  to 
founder  by  the  way!  However  diversified  our  expe 
rience  may  be,  it  is  generally  the  case  that,  in  a  voy 
age  to  heaven,  we  may  expect  hard  toiling  at  first. 
But  as  we  grow  in  grace,  and  advance  to  windward, 
the  current  will  seem  to  set  weaker,  because  we  will 
have  more  grace.  Sometimes  we  will  catch  a  favor 
able  flaw,  which  will  enable  us  to  make  a  consid 
erable  stretch  for  the  kingdom;  and  presently  we 
will  get  the  complete  weather-guage,  strike  the 
wholesome  line  of  holiness,  and  square  our  yards, 
and  up  helm  for  endless  bliss.  Then  we  will  expe 
rience  that  "the  service  of  the  Lord  is  perfect 
freedom." 

But,  although  the  way  to  heaven  may  become 
thus  delightful,  we  must  observe  there  is  danger  of 
"shipwreck."  So  says  our  text. 

I.  Some  of  the  common  causes  of  shipwreck. 

1.  Vessels  are  sometimes  lost  at  sea,  in  conse 
quence  of  not  taking  in  a  sufficiency  of  ballast,  or 
because  the  ballast  is  of  a  spurious  character.  We 
would  have  been  cast  away  ourself  once,  on  this 
account,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  timely  aid  of  a 
British  man-of-war.  We  had  taken  in  a  kind  of 
sand  ballast,  and,  although  it  was  damp,  yet  it 
seemed  to  be  solid  and  compact.  We  had  run  a 
considerable  distance  on  our  voyage  up  the  North 


LORRAIN'S  SKA-SERMONS.  207 

Sea,  when  we  were  overtaken  by  a  gale.  In  the 
midst  of  the  storm  it  was  discovered  that  the  sand 
had  become,  in  a  great  measure,  liquefied.  It  was 
truly  awful,  by  the  lights  of  our  flickering  lamps 
below,  to  see  the  muddy  surges  sweeping  fore  and 
aft,  as  if  in  horrid  imitation  of  the  tempest  raging 
without.  The  captain  stooped  down  and  surveyed 
the  sickening  scene  awhile,  and  my  young  heart 
trembled  when  I  saw  his  firmness  give  way,  the 
tears  gush  from  his  eyes,  and  heard  him  exclaim,  in 
a  subdued  and  humble  tone,  "God  have  mercy  upon 
us!"  We  hoisted  a  signal  of  distress,  and  bore 
away.  Happily  a  sloop-of-war  came  to  our  rescue, 
threw  nearly  all  her  crew  on  board,  and,  after  a  hard 
day's  work,  we  succeeded  in  establishing  shifting 
boards,  and  compressing  the  miry  mass,  so  as  to 
be  able  to  reach  the  port.  Ships  have  sometimes 
sailed  with  too  little  ballast,  and  have  sailed  well  for 
a  season;  but,  when  suddenly  and  unexpectedly 
struck  by  a  squall,  they  have  capsized,  and  all  on 
board  have  perished.  So,  many  souls  have  started 
for  heaven;  but  because  they  have  carried  too  much 
sail  for  their  ballast — too  much  zeal  for  their  relig 
ion — they  have  been  cast  away.  Perhaps  we  might 
more  properly  say,  they  had  not  too  much  zeal;  for 
it  is  right  to  be  "zealously  affected  in  a  good  cause;" 
but  they  had  not  enough  grace,  enough  humble, 
holy  love,  to  ballast  and  stay  their  souls  on  God  in 
perfect  peace;  or  their  religion  was  of  a  spurious, 
muddy  character;  and  soon  the  world,  the  flesh,  or 
the  devil  sprung  a  squall,  and  they,  being  naturally 


208  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

crank  or  top-heavy,  capsized,  and  were  foundered. 
If  a  captain  has  not  had  an  opportunity  of  procuring 
a  sufficient  supply  of  ballast,  he  may  be  blameless, 
although  he  may  perish  for  "want  of  it.  But  if  pro 
fessors  of  religion  are  cast  away  for  want  of  grace, 
they  can  not  be  guiltless  in  the  sight  of  God;  for  he 
has  opened  an  inexhaustible  fountain  of  mercy  and 
grace  on  earth,  and  has  exhorted  us  to  come  with 
boldness  to  a  throne  of  grace,  and  find  grace  and 
mercy  to  answer  in  every  time  of  need.  If  we  per 
ish  in  view  of  all  God's  mercies,  who  will  hold  us 
innocent? 

2.  Ships  are  sometimes  lost  through  ignorance. 
The  captain  is  ignorant  either  of  the  theory  or  prac 
tice  of  navigation,  or  of  both.  He  assumes  the 
command  full  of  recklessness  and  conceit.  He 
presses  on  in  his  erroneous  course,  crying  peace  and 
safety  in  his  heart,  till  he  suddenly — perhaps  at  the 
awful  hour  of  midnight — strikes  on  some  reef  or 
unknown  shore,  and  is  lost  or  wrecked  forever. 
Perhaps  the  most  fruitful  source  of  apostasy  is  igno 
rance.  If  our  ignorance  arises  from  circumstances 
over  which  we  could  have  no  control,  the  Lord  will 
pity  us,  and  perfect  all  that  is  wanting.  But  there 
are  too  many  who  are  willingly  ignorant.  There  are 
too  many  who  despise  knowledge,  if  they  do  not 
advocate  the  abhorrent  doctrine,  that  "ignorance  is 
the  mother  of  devotion."  They  forget  that  the 
Lord  has  commanded,  "Add  to  your  virtue  knowl 
edge;"  "  Grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  the 
Lord."  The  Christian  should  certainly  be  well 


LORRAIU'S  SKA-SERMONS.  209 

stored  with  all  Biblical  knowledge.  The  character 
of  God,  natural  and  moral;  the  purity  of  his  law; 
the  depravity  of  the  human  heart;  the  devices  of 
Satan;  the  doctrines,  the  commandments,  the  pre 
cepts,  the  promises,  and  threatenings  of  the  Almighty, 
are  all  clearly  taught  in  the  inspired  volume.  Again: 
the  Christian  should  make  himself  acquainted  with 
the  notes  and  commentaries  of  pious  and  learned 
men,  who,  in  consequence  of  their  knowledge  of  the 
original  languages,  and  manners  and  customs  of  the 
east,  can  sometimes  throw  a  flood  of  light  on  pas 
sages  of  Scripture  which  otherwise  might  appear 
dark  and  mysterious  to  us.  We  will  also  belDen- 
efited  by  reading  the  lives,  experience,  and  jour 
nals  of  pious  men  and  holy  women,  who  have  gone 
before  us.  When  expeditions  for  discovery  are  fitted 
out,  and  ships  are  about  to  navigate  strange  seas, 
how  careful  are  all  on  board  to  furnish  themselves 
with  the  travels  and  voyages  of  those  who  have 
gone  before  them!  Sometimes,  by  this  means,  they 
are  enabled  to  take  warning,  and  escape  many  blun 
ders  and  even  fatal  errors.  How  many  have  been 
made  cautious  and  provident  by  the  fate  of  the  un 
fortunate  Cook,  and  have  saved  themselves  from  a 
cruel  massacre!  We  are  assured,  from  heaven,  that 
no  temptation  shall  overtake  us  but  what  has  been 
common  with  the  children  of  God.  Therefore,  it  is 
highly  edifying  to  trace  their  voyage  through  life, 
and  follow  them  as  they  have  followed  Christ.  The 
above  knowledge  we  hold  to  be  absolutely  necessary 
to  make  good  headway.  But  again:  it  is  the  privilege 
14 


210  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED   CRUISER;  OR, 

of  saints  to  study  all  kinds  of  useful  and  virtuous 
knowledge.  The  arts  and  sciences  have  been  con 
cocted  by  divine  Wisdom,  in  the  council  of  the  ador 
able  Trinity,  and  are  intended  for  the  study  of  man 
kind;  and,  if  so,  especially  for  Christians;  for  all 
things  are  yours,  whether  Paul  or  Apollos,  life  or 
death — all  are  yours;  and  you  are  Christ's,  and 
Christ  is  God's.  So,  where  time  and  opportunity 
may  admit,  the  door  of  knowledge  stands  wide 
open,  day  and  night.  There  are  some,  however, 
who  hate  wisdom,  and  neglect  to  fortify  themselves 
even  with  theological  information,  and  presently 
they  fall  in  with  some  pirate  of  hell,  some  smooth 
tongued  sinner,  or  some  worthless  pamphlet  that  has 
been  silenced  and  forgotten  long  since  by  intelligent 
men,  and  the  poor,  electrified  ignoramus  is  scuttled 
on  the  spot,  destroyed,  and  sunk  forever. 

3.  Some  are  cast  away  by  neglecting  to  watch,  or 
to  keep  a  bright  look-out.  It  is  common,  on  board 
our  merchantmen,  to  have  the  crew  divided  into  two 
watches — the  starboard  and  larboard.  One  watch 
remains  on  deck  for  four  consecutive  hours,  to  work 
the  vessel,  while  the  other  watch  is  permitted  to 
sleep  below;  and  so  alternately.  It  is  the  business 
of  the  officer  who  has  charge,  to  caution  the  watch 
to  keep  a  bright  look-out.  Sometimes  this  is  neg 
lected.  The  watch  becomes  careless;  especially 
under  fair  skies  and  in  smooth  seas.  The  men 
huddle  under  the  lee  of  the  long-boat,  and  begin  to 
tell  stories  and  sing  old  songs;  or,  having  spun  their 
yarns,  they  pile  together,  with  their  heads  under 


LORKAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  211 

their  wings,  and  begin  to  make  the  land  of  Nod; 
and  it  sometimes  happens — perhaps  in  the  dark  and 
solemn  mid-watch — that  the  ship  strikes  on  some 
iron-bound  coast,  or  runs  foul  of  some  other  sail, 
and  is  wrecked  into  a  thousand  pieces. 

Christ  especially  commands  his  men  to  "watch." 
"Watch  and  pray  lest  you  enter  into  temptation; 
and  what  I  say  to  you,  [my  apostles,]  I  say  unto 
all,  [all  my  people,  throughout  all  ages,]  watch!" 
There  are  good  reasons  why  we  should  watch.  We 
have  enemies  to  watch  against — pirates.  We  have 
to  watch  against  the  allurements  of  the  world — a 
wicked  and  a  deceitful  world — a  world  that  will 
promise  more  in  one  hour  than  she  will  fulfill  in  an 
age.  She  will  point  you  to  vain,  and  idle,  and  sinful 
amusements,  and  would  persuade  you  that  they  can 
satisfy  an  immortal  soul.  And  should  you  take  her 
at  her  word,  and 

"Could  you  stretch  your  arms  like  seas, 
And  grasp  in  all  the  shore," 

you  would  still  be  a  miserable  and  damned  spirit; 
for  Jesus  has  said,  "What  is  a  man  profited  if  he 
should  gain  the  whole  world  and  lose  his  own  soul?" 
We  have  to  watch,  also,  against  the  temptations  of 
the  flesh — an  enemy  more  formidable  than  the  world, 
because  we  are  more  closely  connected  with  it.  The 
brightest  saints  and  apostles  in  glory  had  once  to 
watch  this  enemy.  Paul  says,  "I  strive  to  keep  my 
body  under,  lest,  after  having  preached  to  others,  I 
myself  might  become  a  castaway."  If  such  strict 
vigilance  was  necessary  in  the  green  tree — in  the 


212  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

pristine  days  of  Christianity,  and  under  circum 
stances  of  heavenly  inspiration — how  much  more 
necessary  now,  in  these  degenerate  times!  Brethren, 
watch  against  this  insidious  foe — an  enemy  who  may 
sometimes  meet  you,  arrayed  in  all  the  charms  of 
beauty — in  all  the  glow  of  apparent  innocence. 

"  But  be  greatly  cautions  of  your  sliding  hearts ; 
Beneath  those  beauteous  smiles,  belying  heaven, 
Lurk  searchless  cunning,  cruelty,  and  death." 

We  do  not  say,  fight;  for,  in  the  estimation  of  an 
inspired  apostle,  retreat  here  is  glorious  victory;  for 
he  says,  "Flee  youthful  lusts  that  war  against  the 
soul."  We  have  to  watch  against  the  devil — an 
enemy  who  may  meet  you  at  all  times  and  in  all 
places.  He  will  pursue  you  even  to  the  very  altar 
of  God;  for  when  the  sons  of  God  came  together, 
on  a  certain  occasion,  Satan  came,  also,  among 
them.  To  throw  you  off  your  guard  here,  some 
of  his  human  agents  will  undertake  to  persuade  you 
that  he  is  only  an  imaginary  character.  They  will 
say  persons  all  over  the  world  complain  of  his  tempt 
ation  at  one  and  the  same  time;  and  this  can  not  be, 
unless  we  clothe  him  with  omnipresence,  and  make 
him  equal  with  God.  Remember  that  omnipresence 
is  by  no  means  necessary  to  effect  this.  A  being 
might  be  possessed  of  power  sufficient  to  influence 
all  this  fallen  world  at  once,  and  yet  come  far  short 
of  omnipresence.  He  might  still  have  no  influence 
in  other  worlds,  in  the  other  planets,  in  heaven,  in 
incomprehensible  infinitude.  The  Lord  has  allowed 
himself,  if  we  might  so  speak,  a  wide  latitude  in  his 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  213 

creative  energy.  How  vast  the  knowledge  and  how 
extensive  the  influence  of  an  intelligent  man,  in  com 
parison  with  the  almost  invisible  insect  that  floats  in 
the  air!  Well,  there  may  be  as  wide  a  chasm  be 
tween  men  and  angels.  And  when  we  reflect  how 
wide  has  been  the  influence  of  one  man  for  good — 
we  may  say,  for  instance,  St.  Paul — and,  on  the 
other  hand,  how  extensively  ruinous  the  efforts  of  a 
Voltaire,  we  may  well  conclude  that  our  Creator  can 
form  a  being  so  stupendous  in  his  powers  as  to  influ 
ence  continually  a  rebellious  world.  We  think  this 
power  is  ascribed  to  the  devil  in  the  sacred  Scrip 
tures.  He  is  called  the  "prince  of  the  power  of  the 
air;"  and  he  sheds  this  power  abroad  among  the 
children  of  obedience.  But,  in  addition  to  all  this, 
he  is  surrounded  by  fallen  angels: 

"They  swarm  the  air;  they  darken  heaven; 
They  rule  the  world  below." 

Now,  these  are  great  enemies;  but  we  have  the  assur 
ance  that  greater  is  He  who  is  for  us  than  all  who 
are  against  us;  and  God  has  promised  to  give  us 
grace,  by  which  we  may  ward  off  all  the  fiery  darts 
of  the  wicked  one,  and  come  off  more  than  con 
querors,  through  Him  who  hath  loved  us. 

But,  on  shipboard,  they  not  only  look  out  for 
enemies,  but  they  have  to  watch  their  own  craft,  to 
see  that  all  is  right  on  deck  and  aloft,  to  watch  the 
wind  and  sails,  and  be  ready  to  make  or  take  in, 
as  the  word  may  be.  So  the  Christian  should  watch 
over  his  own  corruptions,  and,  by  divine  grace,  keep 
the  issues  of  his  heart,  and  be  guarded  in  his  words 


214   THE  SQTJ ARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

and  thoughts.  "So  shall  he  to  his  ways  take  heed 
in  all  he  says  or  does." 

Sailors  also  look  out  or  watch  for  land.  Chris 
tians  can  not  reach  the  celestial  harbor  without  pass 
ing  through  the  straits  of  death.  So  they  should 
watch  for  this  event  always.  Sailors  scarcely  ever 
look  out  for  the  port  till  their  reckoning  requires  it. 
But  the  Christian  dares  make  no  reckoning  as  it 
regards  the  end  of  his  voyage.  "Ye  know  not," 
said  our  Savior,  "when  the  time  is;  therefore,  [for 
that  reason,]  watch,  lest,  coming  suddenly,  I  find  you 
sleeping."  Alas!  how  many,  by  neglecting  the  duty 
of  watching,  have  been  run  down  by  their  enemies, 
and  have  been  irrecoverably  lost!  Watch,  men — 
watch! 

4.  Ships  have  been  wrecked  by  their  commanders 
following  too  implicitly  the  example  of  others.  For 
instance:  the  Harlequin,  a  sloop-of-war,  standing 
down  the  English  channel,  with  a  fleet  of  merchant 
men  under  convoy,  supposing  she  had  reached  a 
certain  point,  began  to  bear  away.  It  was  a  dark, 
foggy  night,  and  about  four  o'clock  she  struck,  and 
made  one  of  the  most  distressing  shipwrecks  that 
had  ever  taken  place  on  the  coast.  Vessel  after 
vessel  came  booming  on  the  rocks,  while  the  thun 
dering  of  parting  bolts  and  crushed  timbers,  together 
with  the  screams  and  shrieks  of  drowning  men, 
roused  the  country  round;  and  the  astounded  crowd 
that  lined  the  beach  could  only  spread  their  suppli 
cating  hands  above  the  surf,  and  echo  to  their  grief. 
If  some  of  the  captains  had  been  governed  by  their 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  215 

own  judgments,  and  had  taken  counsel  of  their 
fears,  they  might  have  been  saved.  But,  "0,  it 
was  the  Harlequin,  his  Majesty's  sloop-of-war,  a 
government  vessel,  well  supplied  with  naval  officers, 
whose  home  was  on  the  channel."  So,  away  they 
flew,  with  flowing  sheets,  to  their  destruction.  Some 
of  the  dullest  sailors,  being  warned  by  signal  lights 
and  minute-guns,  escaped  the  ruin.  In  the  same 
way  some  precious  souls  are  wrecked,  by  lean 
ing  on  an  arm  of  flesh.  "The  captain  is  a  wise  and 
good  man,"  says  one;  "surely  there  is  safety  in 
keeping  in  his  wake!"  "The  mate  is  a  professor, 
and  very  pious,  and  he  does  thus  and  so.  It  is  true 
these  things  do  not  sit  very  easy  on  my  conscience; 
but  that  may  be  for  want  of  more  light  in  the  bin 
nacle.  In  the  mean  time,  there  will  be  safety  in  fol 
lowing  him."  But  let  us  remember  that  knowledge 
is  one  thing  and  piety  is  another;  and  many,  who 
have  known  a  great  deal,  have,  nevertheless,  found 
ered,  and,  in  their  expiring  moments,  have  thrown 
out  many  signals  of  distress,  and  fired  their  last 
minute-guns,  to  warn  others  of  the  rocks  on  which 
they  have  split.  Let  us  follow  others,  then,  only  as 
they  have  followed  Christ. 

5.  Some  have,  doubtless,  perished  at  sea  with 
starvation.  Some  have  a  propensity  to  go  to  sea 
too  short  of  provision,  and  one-half  of  the  time  have 
their  hands  on  allowance.  It  is  no  marvel,  then, 
that  sometimes,  by  a  succession  of  long  calms,  or 
head-winds,  or  other  disasters,  they  are  reduced  to 
short  allowance.  We  knew  a  captain  who  was  taken 


216  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OK. 

off  a  wreck,  who  had  been  seventeen  days  without 
bread  and  water,  and  the  most  of  his  crew  had  per 
ished  with  starvation.  Such  a  state  of  things  might 
be  the  fault  of  the  captain,  or  might  not.  But  if 
Christians  starve  to  death  on  their  voyage,  it  will  be 
their  own  fault.  It  is  their  own  business  to  see  that 
they  have  ample  provision;  a  good  supply  of  the 
bread  and  water  of  life;  the  hidden  manna;  the  love 
of  God.  A  captain  may  fall  short,  and  be  blameless. 
He  may  not  be  able  to  procure  a  sufficiency  of  bread 
in  the  port  which  he  leaves.  His  water-casks  may 
be  washed  away,  or  stove  by  stress  of  weather. 
But  there  is  a  rich  and  blood-besprinkled  throne  of 
grace,  to  which  the  Christian  may  come,  and  daily 
draw  his  rations  from  above;  and  he  may  as  well 
ask  for  much  as  little;  for  the  Captain  has  said,  "Ask 
largely,  that  your  joy  may  be  full."  The  Lord  has 
never  yet  put  his  people  on  -short  allowance,  and 
never  will.  But  too  many  are  straitened  in  their 
own  bowels;  half  starved;  ready  to  perish  in  the 
midst  of  Gospel  plenty. 

6.  A  ship  might  be  lost  by  putting  away  a  good 
pilot.  Before  the  invention  of  the  compass,  vessels 
carried  a  pilot  throughout  the  voyage.  The  place 
that  was  imperfectly  supplied  by  such  an  officer,  is 
now  occupied  by  the  compass;  and  what  the  ancient 
pilot  was  and  modern  compass  is  to  a  vessel,  con 
science  is  to  the  man.  Some  passages  in  Scripture 
are  clothed  altogether  in  technical  or  figurative  lan 
guage;  especially  where  the  terms  are  of  common 
parlance,  and  the  application  easy;  as,  for  instance: 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  217 

"A  little  leaven  leavens  the  whole  lump."  Other 
passages  are  only  partially  figurative,  lest  the  sense 
might  be  obscured,  instead  of  elucidated.  This  is 
the  case  with  our  text.  We  believe,  if  the  apostle 
had  thrown  it  altogether  into  technical  terms,  it 
would  have  been,  "  Holding  on  to  the  course,  and  a 
good  pilot,  which  some  having  put  away,  have, 
through  error  in  course,  made  shipwreck."  We  do 
not  intimate  that  this  would  have  improved  Paul's 
language.  On  the  contrary,  it  would  have  obscured 
the  sense.  Very  few  would  have  gone  to  the  pains 
of  studying  out  that  the  Christian's  course  is  the 
way  of  faith,  and  that  his  surest  pilot  is  a  rightly- 
instructed  conscience.  To  be  conformed  to  the  im 
provements  of  the  age,  we  will  fasten  on  the  com 
pass  as  our  figure.  A  good  compass  is  one  that  has 
its  needle  well  charged  with  the  magnetic  influence. 
If  it  is  properly  poised,  and  can  revolve  freely,  it 
will  not  fail  to  be  a  faithful  monitor,  or  guide,  to  the 
mariner,  as  it  respects  his  course.  A  good  conscience 
is  one  that  is  purged  from  dead  works,  by  the  blood 
of  Christ,  regiilated  by  the  word  of  God,  and  deeply 
imbued  with  the  spirit  of  divine  grace.  There  are 
several  ways  in  which  a  good  compass  may  be  in 
jured,  and  virtually  put  away.  When  certain  metals 
are  either  designedly  or  accidentally  secreted  about 
the  binnacle,  they  will  have  their  influence  on  the 
needle,  and  direct  it  from  its  natural  point  of  at 
traction. 

So  a  good  conscience  may  be  seriously  injured  by 
unholy   attractions.     It   may   be  warped    from   its 


218  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

fidelity,  by  the  influence  of  the  world,  the  flesh,  and 
the  devil,  as  we  labored  to  show  in  our  remarks  on 
watching.  And  again:  "a  man  is  tempted  when  he 
is  drawn  aside  of  his  own  lusts  and  enticed."  It 
would  not  be  too  much  to  say  here,  that  even  literal 
metal  sometimes  spoils  the  conscience,  especially  gold 
and  silver;  for  many  a  poor  soul  has  followed  a  roll 
ing  dollar  to  the  very  hatchway  of  hell.  And  we 
are  told  by  the  inspired,  that  those  who  will  be  rich, 
involve  themselves  in  a  snare,  and  in  "hurtful  and 
deceitful  lusts,  that  drown  men  in  perdition."  Take 
care!  take  care,  men!  Put  your  shiners  in  their 
proper  locker,  and  let  them  not  lie  between  your 
conscience  and  that  sacred  light  of  life  which  has 
been  kindled  in  your  binnacle.  When  the  needle  is 
attracted,  it  has  no  power  of  resistance;  for  God  has 
made  it  so.  But  when  man,  an  intelligent  being,  is 
tempted,  he  can  resist.  And  God  has  promised  that 
he  shall  not  be  tempted  more  than  he  is  able;  and 
in  every  temptation  he  will  open  a  way  for  his  es 
cape.  Again:  a  captain  might  put  away  a  good 
compass,  effectually,  by  throwing  it  overboard.  And 
some  Christians  have  done  this  very  thing  with  a 
good  conscience.  They  had  a  good  conscience,  and 
yet,  with  the  light  of  the  Gospel  in  their  hands,  they 
have  smothered  the  voice  of  God  within,  and  have 
coolly  and  deliberately  made  shipwreck  of  their 
souls. 

II.  What  is  a  shipwreck — a  soulwreck?  We  have 
never  been  shipwrecked  ourself.  We  have,  however, 
been  several  times  in  great  danger  of  being  cast 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  219 

away.  Once,  when  making  the  harbor  of  Cadiz,  we 
were  suddenly  struck  by  a  levanter.  At  its  first 
salute,  it  swept  our  square  mainsail  out  of  its  bolt- 
ropes,  like  a  parchment  scroll,  and  we  found  our 
selves  in  a  dreadful  predicament,  and  .were  threat 
ened  with  all  the  horrors  of  a  lee-shore.  We  were 
told,  subsequently,  by  the  inhabitants  on  shore,  that 
it  was  the  heaviest  blow  that  had  been  on  that  coast 
for  twenty  years.  You  may  judge  of  its  violence, 
when  we  add,  that  seventeen  vessels,  which  were  in 
the  harbor,  dragged  their  anchors,  and  went  ashore; 
and  a  man-of-war  was  driven  from  her  moorings, 
with  seven  anchors  out.  The  people  in  port  saw  us 
in  the  offing,  struggling  in  the  tempest,  and  adjudged 
us  to  inevitable  destruction.  Our  ship  was  strong, 
sails  and  rigging  new;  but  to  this  day  it  seems  like 
a  miracle  that  we  could  carry  sail  at  all.  Yet  we 
did  carry  a  sufficiency  to  beat,  though  our  leeway 
was  appalling.  In  the  midst  of  our  distress,  night — 
dark,  moonless,  starless  night — closed  around  us.  It 
is  true,  we  carried  sail  by  the  minute,  expecting  ev 
ery  moment  the  spars  or  sails  to  go.  The  captain 
said  he  could  not,  and  would  not  shorten  more.  He 
ordered  the  carpenter  to  have  his  ax  ready;  "for," 
said  he,  "as  soon  as  a  yard  snaps,  or  a  sail  goes,  we 
will  cut  away  the  masts,  and  let  her  go.  Yes,  let 
her  go  on  an  iron-bound  coast,  where  there  is  no 
hope  of  being  saved."  Never  shall  I  forget  that 
night.  We  had  to  'bout  ship  every  hour,  still  near- 
ing  the  land  with  fearful  rapidity  every  tack.  We 
would  stand  in,  till  we  could  see  the  foaming  surf, 


220  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRITISEK;  OR, 

that  lashed  the  rocky  shore,  piled  to  the  clouds  like 
drifted  snow;  while  its  heart-sickening  roar  rose  su 
perior  to  all  the  howlings  of  the  tempest.  O,  the 
deep  solemnity  that  overshadowed  the  crew!  the 
painful  anxiety  with  which  we  watched  the  sails! 
The  occasional  creaking  of  a  spar,  the  rattling  of  a 
block,  would  sweep  tremulously  over  our  nerves  like 
a  death -knell.  And,  indeed,  it  did  seem  as  if  the 
bitterness  of  shipwreck  was  almost  passed.  We 
seemed  to  suffer  all  but  the  hasty  finale  which  com 
monly  closes  the  scene.  When  all  hope  of  weather 
ing  the  land  was  clean  gone,  it  pleased  almighty 
God,  by  a  sudden  shift,  to  lay  the  tempest  itself  sud 
denly  on  the  other  tack,  and  with  flowing  sheets, 
and  merry  hearts,  we  put  out  to  sea. 

Some  have  been  wrecked;  buf,  through  the  mercy 
of  God,  all  hands  have  reached  shore,  and  they 
have  had  their  lives  for  a  prey.  Others  have  been 
wrecked  and  drowned;  but  even  here  we  have  hope, 
that  some  in  their  deep  distress  called  upon  the  name 
of  the  Lord,  and  were  saved  with  an  everlasting  sal 
vation.  But,  0,  the  shipwreck  of  an  immortal  soul! 

When  a  vessel  is  wrecked,  there  is  generally  an 
entire  breaking  up — a  separation  of  parts.  But  the 
soul  is  a  spiritual  unit — the  breath  of  the  Almighty — 
immortal  and  indissoluble.  It  can  not  be  annihilated. 
How,  then,  is  it  wrecked?  Its  powers  of  perception 
and  appreciation  are  not  destroyed.  It  is  true,  the 
earthly  organs,  through  which  the  soul  has  acted, 
are  dissolved;  but  its  power  of  discernment  is  not 
impaired;  perhaps  greatly  enhanced.  A  man  who 


LORRAIN'S  SEA- SERMONS.  221 

is  in  the  cabin,  may  look  through  the  window  and 
have  a  view,  a  partial  view,  of  the  seas  and  heavens; 
but  should  he  come  on  deck,  or  ascend  into  the  cross- 
trees,  he  can  with  one  sweep  take  in  half  of  the 
horizon.  So  we  suppose  it  is  with  the  soul.  In  these 
earthly  hulls,  it  has  some  perception  of  outward 
things,  as  they  are  seen  through  the  eyes — the  nar 
row  and  contracted  windows  of  the  mind.  But  when 
the  spirit  is  dislodged,  it  is  one  bulb  of  feeling,  vi 
sion,  hearing,  perception.  As  it  regards  what  will 
be  its  mode  of  operation,  we  say  not,  because  we 
know  not.  But  it  will  certainly  possess  powers  of 
comprehension  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  those  which 
we  now  enjoy.  Such  powers  are  ascribed  to  God 
himself,  although  a  pure  and  unmixed  spirit.  They 
are  not  only  ascribed  to  him  in  the  Scriptures,  but 
sustained  by  the  most  resistless  arguments.  The 
prophet  reasons,  "He  that  planted  the  eye,  can  not 
he  see?"  True:  could  he  make  such  a  delicate  organ, 
and  so  arrange  the  nerves  to  give  vision  to  man,  un 
less  he  possessed  the  same  power,  and  was  perfectly 
acquainted  with  the  whole  science  of  optics?  Sup 
pose  we  should  show  you,  in  a  gallery  of  paintings, 
a  well-finished  portrait;  its  countenance  beams  with 
animation,  and  its  highly-finished  eyes  seem  to  spar 
kle  with  life  and  intelligence;  and  suppose  we  were 
to  say,  that  the  most  remarkable  circumstance  con 
nected  with  it  is,  that  it  was  drawn  by  a  young  man 
who  was  blind  from  his  birth:  could  you  believe  that 
yarn?  If  a  blind  man,  then,  can  not  imitate  an  eye, 
how  could  God  make  a  living  one,  unless  he  can  see? 


222  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

"He  that  made  the  ear,  [so  as  to  convey  sounds  to 
the  soul  by  the  auditory  nerves,]  can  not  he  hear?" 
The  damned  soul,  then,  still  retains  its  essential 
powers;  but  it  is  wrecked  in  the  enjoyment  of  them. 
The  lost  sees;  but  he  is  no  more  delighted  with 
lovely  landscapes,  lascivious  representations,  spark 
ling  glasses,  and  scenes  of  merriment  and  dissipa 
tion.  He  sees!  The  rich  man  saw — saw  brighter 
than  he  ever  saw  in  this  world.  He  saw  across  the 
great  and  impassable  gulf,  which  stretches  between 
heaven  and  hell;  and  we  can  imagine  no  two  points 
more  distant  from  each  other.  "He  saw  Lazarus  in 
Abraham's  bosom."  The  lost  soul  can  hear;  but 
what  does  he  hear?  the  merriment  and  revelry, 
the  swearing  and  blasphemy,  the  music  and  lascivi 
ous  songs,  which  once  delighted  his  ears?  No;  but 
he  hears  the  ceaseless  thunders  and  explosions  of 
hell,  the  shrieking  of  damned  souls,  the  howlings  of 
infuriated  devils,  weeping  and  wailing,  and  gnashing 
of  teeth.  The  rich  man  heard.  He  heard  Abraham, 
across  the  great  gulf,  saying,  "Son,  thou  in  thy  life 
time  hadst  thy  good  things,  and  Lazarus  his  evil 
things;  but  now  he  is  comforted,  and  thou  art  tor 
mented."  The  rich  man  felt;  he  felt  most  exqui 
sitely;  he  exclaimed  in  his  bitter  anguish,  "  0,  father 
Abraham,  I  am  tormented  in  this  flame!"  A  total 
wreck  of  all  enjoyment!  0,  draw  nigh,  all  ye  that 
pass  by,  and  see  if  there  was  ever  any  sorrow  like 
this  sorrow — any  wreck  like  this  awful  soulwreck! 
See!  see!  the  whirling  billows  of  fire  and  brimstone, 
crowded  with  immortal  souls;  and  every  time  they 


LORBAIN'S  SEA-SEKMONS.  223 

rise  above  the  fiery  surge,  they  yell,  methinks,  with 
a  voice  that  shakes  the  remotest  caverns  of  damna 
tion.  "  0,  eternity!  eternity!  who  can  tell  the  length 
of  an  endless  eternity?" 

"0,  -wretched  state  of  deep  despair! 

To  see  their  God  remove, 
And  place  their  doleful  station  where 
They  can  not  taste  his  love." 

But  here  the  devil's  minister  comes  along  with  his 
master's  old  favorite  text,  "Thou  shalt  not  surely 
die."  And  he  says  to  the  humble  Christian,  "Why, 
brother,  could  you  find  it  in  your  heart  to  damn  a 
poor  soul?  Look  around;  pick  out  your  worst  ene 
my;  and  then  I  will  ask  you,  could  you  send  him, 
for  one  day,- into  such  a  place  as  they  say  hell  is?" 
Mind,  "they  say"  He  means  Christ,  his  apostles, 
and  all  evangelical  ministers.  He  is  not  quite  as 
open  as  his  master.  He  said,  "Has  the  Lord  God 
said?"  and  then  proceeded  with  a  flat  contradiction. 
The  Christian  ingenuously  answers,  as  he  should  do, 
"I  would  damn  no  one;  but  pray  for  all — friends 
and  enemies."  "  Then,"  says  the  Universalist,  "you 
pretend  to  be  better  than  God;  for  you  say  God  will 
damn  all  impenitent  sinners."  But  avast  heaving, 
Mr.  Universalist;  and  now  do  you  come  up  to  the 
catechism.  Do  you  see  that  homeward-bound  ship, 
dancing  into  port?  She  has  passed  through  many  a 
storm;  but  she  is  now  nearing  the  land.  She  is 
crowded  with  passengers — men,  women,  and  chil 
dren.  In  the  prospect  of  a  safe  and  happy  arrival, 
their  hearts  are  bounding  with  joy.  Who  can  de 
scribe  the  bright  prospects  and  pleasing  anticipations 


224   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

that  are  looming  before  them!  Well,  sir,  could  you 
find  it  in  your  heart  to  scuttle  that  vessel,  if  you 
had  it  in  your  power,  and  sink  such  an  amount  of 
human  happiness?  Say:  speak  out.  "Why,  no; 
I  could  not  sink  those  men,  .women,  and  children." 
Well,  the  Lord  does,  almost  every  month,  destroy 
vessels  under  just  such  circumstances;  but  does  it 
argue  that  you  are  better  than  God? 

The  truth  is,  man  is  no  God.  He  can  not  see,  as 
God  sees,  the  sinfulness  of  sin,  or  the  wide-spread 
ruin  that  it  would  work,  if  permitted  to  rage  with 
unbridled  power.  If  man  was  as  holy  as  God  is 
holy — as  just,  as  merciful,  as  wise,  as  omnipotent, 
as  good  as  he,  man  would  do  exactly  as  God  has 
done.  We  are  vile  sinners  ourselves,  and  it  is  not 
surprising  that,  in  a  strong  case,  human  sympathy 
should  reign  predominant.  We  could  not  expect  a 
court,  that  was  made  up  of  smugglers,  robbers,  and 
pickpockets,  would  condemn  a  pirate  as  quick  as  a 
more  virtuous  court  would.  The  great  question  is, 
has  the  Lord  God  said,  that  the  wicked  shall  go 
away  into  everlasting  punishment?  If  so,  we  can 
not  honor  him,  by  exalting  his  mercy  at  the  expense 
of  his  veracity. 

The  soul  is  wrecked  in  all  its  false  hopes.  In  this 
life,  the  sinner  builds  on  many  false  hopes.  He  says 
the  denunciations  in  the  Bible  are  only  figurative, 
and  refer  merely  to  the  ills  of  this  life.  Some  of 
the  most  moral  predicate  their  hope  of  salvation  on 
their  own  goodness,  which  is  an  evident  token 
of  their  great  spiritual  blindness.  Others  brace 


LDKRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  225 

themselves  up  with  false  doctrines,  and  hope  there 
is  no  hell;  or,  if  there  is,  it  is  only  a  place  of  tran 
sient  discipline,  to  prepare  them  for  the  endless  en 
joyment  of  heaven.  But,  in  that  dread  day,  when 
they  shall  see  the  Ancient  of  days,  high  and  lifted 
up,  and  his  glorious  train  filling  the  temple  of 
heaven,  and  when  they  shall  hear  him  say,  "  Depart, 
ye  cursed,  into  everlasting  fire,"  there  will  be  no 
more  quibbling  and  disputing  about  that  plain 
phrase,  everlasting.  Every  false  hope  will  fly  like 
spoon-drift.  Their  false  keels  will  be  knocked  off. 
All  their  gingerbread  work  will  go  by  the  board,  and 
a  horrid  and  eternal  shipwreck  will  be  their  everlast 
ing  portion."  0,  sinner,  do  you  know  that  you  are 
the  very  man  who  is  even  now,  every  moment,  ex 
posed  to  this  endless  maelstrom? 

~  '"**  "Lo!  on  a  narrow  neck  of  land, 

'Twixt  two  unbounded  seas,  you  stand, 

Secure,  insensible; 
A  point  of  time,  a  moment's  space, 
.  Will  land  you  in  that  heavenly  place, 
Or  shut  you  up  in  hell!" 

III.  But,  thank  God!  there  is  no  necessity  of  a 
soulwreck.  It  is  the  will  of  our  heavenly  Father 
that  we  should  weather  every  foe,  and  get  safely 
into  port.  To  enable  us  to  do  this,  he  has  given  us 
an  infallible  chart — the  precious  Bible.  Are  we 
in  danger  of  falling  short  of  provision  and  small 
stores,  it  directs  us  where  to  put  in,  and  get  bread 
and  water,  "wine  and  milk,"  Gospel  grace,  "with 
out  money  and  without  price."  •  Does  the  storm 
come  down  upon  us  too  heavy  for  our  frail  barks,  it 


226  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OB, 

teaches  us  where  we  may  scud  away  for  safety,  and 
find  "a  hiding-place  from  the  wind — a  covert  from 
the  tempest."  He  has  sent  his  Holy  Spirit  to 
sprinkle  and  breathe  upon  our  sails — to  sanctify  and 
inspire  all  the  ransomed  powers  of  our  minds. 
With  all  his  divine  aid,  it  will  be  an  unpardonable 
fault  of  ours  if  we  are  not  properly  ballasted  with 
divine  love.  Let  us  watch  and  pray.  Let  us  grow 
in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  God.  Let  us  not 
give  chase  to  every  strange  sail,  however  large  they 
may  loom,  but  hold  on  to  our  course,  and  mind  our 
own  reckoning — follow  none,  but  such  as  stand  up  to 
the  law  and  the  testimony.  Let  us  look  well  to  our 
compass,  and  keep  our  lamps  well  trimmed,  bright, 
and  burning.  "And  if  we  do  these  things  we  shall 
never  fall;"  for  God  has  promised  that  an  entrance 
shall  be  abundantly  ministered  to  us  into  the  ever 
lasting  kingdom  of  his  dear  Son.  An  abundant  en 
trance!  It  implies  that  we  shall  not  want  for  a  fair 
wind  and  good  pilot;  for  a  ship  about  to  enter  a 
strange  port  would  be  greatly  straitened  by  a  foul 
wind;  especially  when  without  a  pilot.  An  abund 
ant  entrance  implies  that  every  bar  shall  be  removed. 
Yes;  the  devil  will  not  be  permitted  to  run  a  chevaux 
de  frieze  athwart  your  cutwater- way.  A  free  en 
trance!  Xo  hinderance  by  blockade,  duties,  or  quar 
antine.  In  some  Spanish  harbors  we  have  to  ride 
quarantine  for  forty  days,  and  then  submit  to  many 
superstitious  rites  and  ceremonies,  before  we  can 
step  ashore.  Yes;  and  the  old,  idolatrous  Church 
of  Rome  speaks  of  a  kind  of  quarantine  ground,  or 


LOBRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  227 

purgatory,  where  its  best  members  must  ride  for  a 
season,  before  they  enter  heaven.  But  when  Martin 
Luther  examined  the  old  chart,  and  explored  all  the 
coast  betwixt  heaven  and  hell,  he  found  no  laza 
retto  there.  We  will  enter  freely — enter  largely. 
If  we  have  an  abundant  administration,  of  course 
we  will  find  a  wide  berth — ^ood  moorings — other- 

O  O 

wise  we  would  be  straitened  in  our  arrival.  0,  me- 
thinks  I  see  the  happy  soul  nearing  the  heavenly 
shore!  Light  ho!  light  ho!  See  the  hallowed  star 
of  Bethlehem  shedding  its  bright  pathway  athwart 
the  gloomy  gulf!  "Steady,  boy;  steady!"  But 
what  pellucid  stream  is  this  that  gushes  forth  to  meet 
the  ransomed  one?  It  is  the  river  of  life  that  issues 
from  beneath  the  throne.  Behold  the  bending  trees 
on  either  side,  and  the  myriads  of  happy  ones  that 
crowd  its  sacred  banks!  Hear,  0,  hear  the  apples 
of  glory  rolling  on  deck,  as  she  scrapes  along  the 
boughs  of  the  tree  of  life!  And  now  the  city  of 
saints  heaves  in  view.  0,  the  ineffable  brightness 
that  pours  through  all  the  wide-spread  gates  of  the 
new  and  heavenly  Jerusalem!  "Overhaul  your 
cable,  and  stand  by  the  shank-painter!"  and  still 
the  ministering  spirits  warp  her  on — warp  her  on! 
"  Brush  up  your  long-togs  and  Sunday -go-shores!" 
Fly  wide — fly  wide,  ye  everlasting  docks,  and  let  an 
heir  of  heaven  in!  Nigher  and  nigher!  Right  up 
to  the  pier-head  of  endless  glory!  Chock  block 
and  belay!  Glory  be  to  God!  made  fast  for  a  full 
due,  where  not  a  spray  of  trouble  will  stain  her  spot 
less  decks  forever  and  ever!  There  is,  however,  some 


228  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CEUISEK;  OR, 

difference  between  the  saints  reaching  heaven  and 
sailors  coming  into  port.  When  homeward  bound, 
the  seamen,  and  passengers,  too,  anticipate  more 
than  they  ever  realize;  so  that  it  has  become  a  com 
mon  saying,  "  There  is  more  pleasure  in  the  pros- 
pection  than  in  the  possession."  As  they  draw  near 
home,  the  excitement  becomes  more  and  more  in 
tense;  but  the  moment  they  touch  the  shore  the  in 
toxication  is  over.  There  is  a  sudden  falling  off. 
The  sober  hue  of  reality  falls  on  every  object,  and 
the  sailor  almost  sighs  for  the  wheel  of  time  to  roll 
back,  that  he  may  quaff  the  delicious  cup  of  antici 
pation  over  again.  It  is  not  so  with  the  saint  in 
light.  His  anticipations  are  more  than  realized;  for 
eye  has  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  nor  has  it  entered 
into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive  of  that  glory  that 
is  laid  up  for  the  faithful.  Here  we  think,  some 
times,  that  our  preachers  are  too  florid,  too  meta 
phorical,  too  free,  if  not  presumptuous,  in  speaking 
of  the  joys  of  heaven.  But  once  there,  and  we  will 
look  back  and  wonder  that  their  highest  strains  of 
eloquence  were  so  mean,  so  meager,  so  beggarly; 
and  we  will,  doubtless,  exclaim,  with  the  queen  of 
the  south,  "Behold,  the  half  of  it  was  not  told  us!" 
St.  Paul,  in  describing  this  glory,  calls  it  a  "weight 
of  glory,"  to  show  that  it  is  no  ghostly  or  moon 
beam  enjoyment,  but  that  it  is  solid  and  substantial. 
Still  not  satisfied  with  this,  he  calls  it  "an  eternal 
weight."  Did  ever  the  world  hear  before  of  an 
eternal  weight?  We  have  some  idea  of  hundreds 
and  tons,  however  much  they  may  be  multiplied; 


LORRAIN'S  SKA-SERMONS.  229 

but  an  eternal  weight!  Still  not  satisfied,  he  calls  it 
"a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory!" 
And  yet,  when  this  same  Paul  was  caught  up  into 
the  third  heavens,  and  permitted  to  look  into  the 
harbor,  he  declares  that  he  saw  sights  and  heard 
words  that  it  is  not  lawful  for  a  man  to  utter.  He 
does  not  say  that  he  was  forbidden;  but  the  laws  of 
language  and  of  human  interchange  of  thought 
were  not  sufficient  for  such  a  communication.  How 
happy  the  soul  that  will  enter  into  this  glory!  As 
the  mariner,  who  has  made  his  escape  to  shore, 
looks  back,  with  a  peculiar  interest,  to  the  dangers 
through  which  he  has  passed,  so  the  once  tempest- 
beaten  sou-l  will  look  back  at  the  storms  and  conflicts 
of  this  life,  and  exclaim,  "  Saved!  saved!  To  God 
be  all  the  glory!  Saved  with  an  everlasting  salva 
tion!  0,  death,  where  is  thy  sting?  0,  grave, 
where  is  thy  victory?" 

REFLECTIONS.     * 

1.  All  who  live  and  die  in  sin  must  be  wrecked. 
There  is  but  one  point  in  all  the  moral  horizon  that 
will  lead  to  heaven,  and  that  is  the  cardinal  point 
of  faith.  It  is  not  sufficient  that  a  man  cherish  this 
grace  or  that  grace,  this  virtue  or  that  virtue: 
"Through  faith  ye  are  saved." 

"The  way  the  holy  prophet  went — 
The  road  that  leads  from  banishment." 

On  the  other  hand,  every  other  point  leads  to  ruin — 
to  shipwreck.  A  man  may  be  an  abandoned  drunk 
ard,  and  mankind  may  charge  him  with  no  other 


230  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

crime;  but  if  he  holds  on  to  his  course,  it  will  end 
in  shipwreck.  Another  may  despise  drunkenness, 
and  yet  blaspheme  his  Maker.  He  is  bound  for  hell. 
Another  may  avoid  all  this,  but  pursue  some  other 
course  equally  offensive  to  God,  and  equally  ruinous 
to  his  own  soul.  Indeed,  our  natural  corruption 
alone  is  sufficient  to  sink  us  down  to  eternal  despair; 
and  he  who  "believeth  not"  will  be  shipwrecked. 
We  have  not,  however,  pursued  this  at  large,  be 
cause  our  text  is  silent  in  regard  to  the  finally  im 
penitent,  and  it  speaks  only  in  reference  to  the  people 
of  God,  which  leads  us  to  say, 

2.  That  while  the  unbeliever  must  be  shipwrecked, 
the  Christian  may  be.  In  our  context  the  apostle 
tells  us  that  some  had  put  away  a  godd  conscience, 
and  concerning  faith  had  made  shipwreck.  Yes;  he 
even  mentions  names  —  two  distinguished  men 
of  war —  Hymeneus  and  Alexander."  This  state- 
.  ment  itself  will  not  be  questioned.  Those  who  may 
not  like  it  may  undertake  to  explain  it  away,  by 
saying  that  their  faith  was  not  evangelical,  and  that 
their  conscience  was  not  good.  But  then  there  is 
an  insurmountable  difficulty.  It  is  exactly  the  kind 
of  faith  and  conscience  that  Paul  exhorts  Timothy, 
a  Christian  bishop,  to  hold  on  to;  and  surely  he 
would  not  advise  his  beloved  son  in  the  Gospel  to 
hold  on  to  a  spurious  faith  and  foul  conscience. 
But  it  is  enough  to  console  the  saint  that,  if  he 
holds  on  to  faith  and  a  good  conscience,  he  may  be 
persuaded  that  "neither  life  nor  death,  nor  princi 
palities  nor  powers,  nor  hight  nor  depth,  nor  things 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  231 

present  nor  things  to  come,  nor  any  other  creature, 
shall  be  able  to  separate  him  from  the  love  of  God, 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  our  Lord." 


\Ve  trust  forever  more, 

0,  Jesus  Christ,  in  thee ; 
The  God  who  saves  upon  the  shore 

Is  mighty  on  the  sea. 

By  thy  unerring  chart 

We'll  navigate  our  way ; 
We  will  not  from  our  course  depart, 

Or  conscience  cast  away. 

Thy  fair,  celestial  light 

Will  cheer  us  through  the  day; 
We'll  keep  a  bright  look-out  at  night, 

Nor  cease  to  watch  and  pray. 

While,  drawn  with  cords  of  love, 
We'll  near  the  port  divine, 

Till,  anchored  with  the  fleet  above 
We'll  swell  the  royal  line. 


- 


232  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 


SERMON   X. 
A   SHORT   TRIP. 

WHEN,  outward  bound,  the  ship  departs, 

Propelled  by  generous  gales, 
With  lively  songs,  and  bounding  hearts, 

The  seamen  trim  their  sails. 

They  clear  the  wharves — they  clear  the  fort — 

They  swiftly — gayly  glide, 
By  ling'ring,  gazing  friends  in  port, 

Who  still  at  anchor  ride. 

The  town,  with  all  its  spires,  and  charms, 

Has  faded  in  their  view: 
The  meadows,  orchards,  woods,  and  farms, 

Are  fast  receding  too. 

And  ere  the  shades  of  evening  fall, 

So  rapid  is  their  flight, 
That  beacons,  light-house,  land,  and  all, 

Have  glided  out  of  sight. 

Just  so,  our  days  and  years  have  fled, 

As  fast  as  time  can  vft£ t ; 
And  joys  that  now  loom  large  ahead, 

Will  founder  soon  abaft. 

Our  sorrows — troubles — in  their  turn, 

Will  their  departure  take ; 
For  soon  we'll  drop  them  fell  astern, 

To  strangle  in  our  wake. 
* 
We  pass  our  childhood,  pass  our  noon, 

Through  good,  through  bad  report ; 
And  our  fast-sailing  vessels  soon 

Will  anchor  in  the  port. 

There  will  our  rapid  voyage  end, 

And  we  no  longer  roam; 
And  He,  who  is  the  sailor's  friend, 

Will  welcome  Christians  home. 


LOBRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  233 

"  They  are  passed  away  as  the  swift  ships,"  JOB  rx,  26. 

THERE  is  no  subject  in  which  the  children  of  men 
are  more  deeply  interested,  than  that  of  death.  There 
fore,  there  is  a  great  variety  of  figures  used  in  the 
Scriptures,  to  impress  our  minds  with  a  proper  sense 
of  the  shortness  of  life  and  the  rapidity  of  time. 
"What  is  your  life?"  says  one;  "it  is  even  a  vapor, 
that  appeareth  for  a  little  time,  and  then  vanisheth 
away."  It  is  again  represented  by  fading  flowers, 
and  perishing  grass.  Sometimes  it  is  compared  to  a 
post — a  mail — to  a  weaver's  shuttle — to  an  eagle 
hastening  to  its  prey.  In  our  text,  it  is  well  figured 
by  the  fast-sailing  ships.  In  all  this,  we  see  the 
mercy  of  God,  in  adapting  the  language  of  truth  to 
all  orders  of  men,  and  to  every  condition.  The 
fading  flower  is  a  beautiful  metaphor  to  the  botanist, 
or  farmer;  the  weaver's  shuttle,  the  eagle  darting 
on  his  prey,  and  the  swift  post-boy,  may  do  for  oth 
ers;  but  the  sailor  seldom  has  an  opportunity  of 
observing  these  things.  He  is  not  in  the  habit  of 
roving  the  flowery  meadows,  and  moralizing  on  the 
fading  grass,  which  to-day  is,  and  to-morrow  is  cut 
down,  and  cast  into  the  oven.  Still,  he  also  must 
die.  The  word  of  God  points  him  to  the  fast-sailing 
ship,  as  an  emblem  of  his  brief  career.  To  him, 
the  swiftness  of  the  ship  is  familiar.  When  stand 
ing  down  the  river,  with  a  stiff  breeze,  sweeping 
tide,  and  all  sail  set,  we  can  not  avoid  remarking 
the  rapidity  of  the  vessel,  and  the  velocity  with  which 
the  objects  around  us  seem  to  recede.  When  two 

*  » 


234  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

ships  pass  each  other  at  sea,  the  figure  presents  it 
self  in  all  its  force  and  beauty.  There  is  hardly  any 
thing  which  transpires,  that  strikes  with  more  thrill 
ing  effect  on  the  dull  uniformity  of  a  sea-life,  than 
the  appearance  of  a  sail.  The  tremulous  cry  of 
"  Sail  ho!  sail  ho!"  rouses  every  soul  on  board,  from 
the  cabin  to  the  fore-peak.  The  vessel  is  first  seen 
as  a  dark  speck  in  the  distant  horizon.  Owing  to 
the  rotundity  of  the  earth,  only  the  lofty  sails  are 
seen.  But  as  she  approaches,  she  looms  larger  and 
larger.  Every  spy -glass  is  leveled;  every  eye  is 
strained.  She  comes!  she  comes!  rolling  and  floun 
dering  like  some  living  monster  of  the  great  deep! 
When  there  is  a  stiff  breeze,  there  is  hardly  time 
to  pass  the  usual  salutations,  "Whence  came  ye? 
whither  are  ye  bound?"  before  she  has  passed.  The 
hoarse  voice  of  the  trumpet  breaks  in  unintelligible 
murmurs  on  the  whistling  winds,  and  she  is  gone! 
We  look  astern,  and  she  is  hovering  like  a  dark  bird 
in  our  distant  wake:  so  passeth  away  the  swift-sail 
ing  ship.  At  such  times,  a  reflection  on  the  short 
ness  of  life,  and  the  rapid  flight  of  time,  will  flash 
across  the  most  careless  mind  on  board. 

"Time,  like  an  ever-rolling  stream, 

Bears  all  its  sons  away; 
They  fly,  forgotten,  as  a  dream 
Dies  at  the  opening  day." 

What  is  the  length  of  human  life,  when  brought 
into  comparison  with  the  endless  eternity  to  which 
we  are  bound?  No  more  than  a  drop  of  water  when 
compared  to  the  mighty  ocean.  Indeed,  we  might 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  235 

say,  not  so  much;  for  the  ocean  is  made  up  of  drops; 
and  although  they  might  be  so  numerous,  that  an 
angel's  mind  might  not  be  able  to  cast  the  mighty 
sum,  yet,  if  one  drop  should  be  evaporated  every 
day,  without  its  place  being  supplied  by  the  grand 
laboratory  of  nature,  the  period  would  come  when 
the  place  of  the  great  deep  would  be  dry.  But  if 
a  million  of  years  were  smitten  from  eternity,  what 
vacuum  would  it  make  ?  We  may  well  smile  at 
the  simplicity  of  the  question;  for  eternity  is  a  state 
that  can  neither  be  added  to  nor  taken  from.  Our 
antediluvian  fathers  lived  for  centuries;  but  they 
have  passed  aAvay  like  the  swift-sailing  ships.  The 
measure  of •  human  life  is  now  reduced  to  threescore 
years  and  ten;  all  beyond  is  sorrow  and  affliction  of 
soul.  One-third  of  our  time  must  necessarily  be 
spent  in  sleep,  to  recruit  our  wasted  strength  from 
time  to  time.  And  when  we  come  to  gather  up  our 
priceless  moments,  that  can  be  exclusively  applied 
to  our  mental  and  moral  improvement,  we  are  con 
strained  to  exclaim, 

"A  point  of  time — a  moment's  space, 
May  land  us  in  that  heavenly  place, 
Or  shut  us  up  in  hell." 

And  let  us  consider  how  few  pass  the  meridian  of 
life,  especially  as  it  regards  sea-faring  men;  while 

"Dangers  stand  thick  through  all  the  ground, 

To  push  us  to  the  tomb; 
And  fierce  diseases  wait  around, 
To  hurry  mortals  home." 

It  is  true  that,  when  we  were  children,  time  seemed 
to  move  slowly.  It  then  appeared  like  an  age  from 


236   THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 


one  holiday  to  another.  But  when  we  look  back,  it 
seems  as  though  it  were  yesterday  that  we  were 
engaged  in  our  childish  frolics.  Where  are  our 
pleasures,  our  afflictions,  our  smiles,  our  tears,  our 
toys  of  other  days?  They  have  passed,  all  passed 
away,  like  the  swift-sailing  ships! 

It  is  our  highest  wisdom  to  study  what  improve 
ment  we  can  now  make  of  our  fleeting  moments. 

1 .  Life  is  short;  but  we  must  not  despise  it  on  that 
account.  If  those  who  are  engaged  in  a  literal  voy 
age,  should  despise  it  because  it  is  short,  what  evils 
might  ensue!  The  captain  says,  "My  voyage  is 
short:  I  am  not  bound  to  China,  or  on  an  exploring 
expedition;  therefore,  I  need  not  be  very  particular 
in  my  reckoning,  or  nice  in  my  calculations."  The 
officers  say,  "As  it  is  a  short  trip,  we  need  not  be 
overmuch  careful  in  storing  our  provisions  and  water- 
casks.  So,  so!  avast!  one  round  turn  will  do;  make 
fast;  we  will  soon  have  to  unlash  them  again."  The 
sailors  say,  "A  short  passage:  what  is  the  use  of 
being  so  particular  in  mending  these  sails?  Bear  a 
hand,  boys;  a  long  stitch  for  the  merchant." 

Who  does  not  see,  that,  however  short  the  voy 
age  may  be,  such  conduct  might  be  very  ruinous  to 
all  concerned?  Short  voyages  are  frequently  dan 
gerous,  and  sometimes  fatal.  During  the  last  war 
with  England,  when  our  army  was  returning  from 
the  defeat  of  Proctor,  several  companies  were  em 
barked  on  board  a  schooner.  Some  who  had  not 
been  accustomed  to  travel  by  water,  thought  it  a 
perilous  undertaking.  The  lake  was  so  small,  com- 


LOEKAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  23T 

paratively  speaking,  and  the  voyage  so  short,  that  1 
fielt  disposed  to  make  myself  merry  with  their  fears, 
Many  of  the  soldiers  becoming  seasick,  retired  into 
the  hold.  The  weather  became  very  stormy,  and 
presently  a  heavy  squall  struck  us.  The  blast  itself 
was  not,  perhaps,  sufficient  to  capsize  her;  but  just 
at  that  time  an  enormous  long-torn,  which  was  car 
ried  amidships,  breaking  its  lashing,  slued  its  muz 
zle  to  leeward;  and  this,  together  with  a  general 
rush  of  soldiers  below,  laid  her  on  her  beam  ends; 
the  water  gushed  into  the  lee-hatchway,  and  the 
soldiers  gushed  out,  and  for  a  few  moments  inevita 
ble  destruction  stared  us  in  the  face.  A  sailor,  who 
was  in  the  -lee-scuppers,  had  the  presence  of  mind 
to  let  fly  the  fore-sheet,  and  we  soon  righted  again. 
Here  I  received  a  just  rebuke  for  despising  all  dan 
ger,  because  the  voyage  was  short.  I  found  it  was 
sufficiently  long,  and  the  water  sufficiently  deep,  to 
land  us  all  in  an  endless  eternity. 

Now,  there  are  some  who  despise  life  because  it 
is  short.  They  say,  "Life  is  so  short,  that  there  is 
no  use  in  acquiring  a  liberal  education,  in  securing 
a  good  home,  or  in  engaging  in  any  important  en 
terprise.  We  are  here  to-day,  gone  to-morrow;  let 
us  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry."  Such  people  sink 
into  a  state  of  idleness,  or  ennui,  if  into  nothing 
worse;  and  they  find  in  the  end  that  the  voyage, 
though  short,  is  sufficiently  long  to  sink  ship  and 
cargo,  soul  and  body,  into  bottomless  and  everlasting 
perdition.  But,  notwithstanding  they  speak  lightly 
of  time,  yet  they  will  say,  "  Come,  let  us  have  a 


238    THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OB,' 

song,  or  a  game  of  cards,  to  kill  time."  And  they 
do  effectually  kill  time;  for  many  of  them  do  not 
live  out  half  their  days. 

2.  We  should  not  despise  life  because  it  is  short; 
for  it  is  sufficiently  long  to  secure  everlasting  life. 

Sometimes  a  very  short  voyage  has  made  splendid 
fortunes.  This  short  voyage  of  life  is  long  enough 
to  make  us  rich  in  faith,  and  heirs  of  an  everlasting 
kingdom.  '  •> 

This  will  appear  from  the  very  economy  of  salva 
tion:  "By  grace  ye  are  saved  through  faith."  Now, 
if  our  salvation  were  by  works,  truly  it  would  oc 
cupy  much  time.  Works  and  time  are  inseparably 
connected.  It  would  take  some  time  to  build  a  ship. 
It  would  take  much  more  time  to  build  and  fit  out  a 
navy;  and  we  find  that  time  is  always  consumed  in 
proportion  to  the  magnitude  of  the  work.  Now,  as 
the  salvation  of  the  soul  is  the  most  important  of  all 
work,  the  usual  term  of  human  life  would  be  too 
short  to  accomplish  it.  Yea,  an  eternity  itself  could 
hardly  wash  our  stains  away.  But  salvation  is 
through  faith — through  the  act  of  a  mental  or  spir 
itual  gift  of  God;  and,  therefore,  is  instantaneous. 
,  The  experience  of  all  the  New  Testament  saints 
proves  this.  All  the  conversions  mentioned  in  the 
Gospel  are  of  this  character.  Look  at  the  Philip- 
pian  jailor!  What  was  he,  and  who  was  he,  when 
'  he  received  Christ's  ministers  into  custody?  He 
was  a  wicked,  godless,  and  cruel  man.  In  virtue 
of  his  office,  it  was  his  duty  to  receive  the  prisoners 
and  to  keep  them  safely;  but  it  was  no  official  duty 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  239 

to  treat  them  ill.  He,  however,  seemed  to  rejoice 
that  his  office  afforded  him  an  opportunity  to  join  in 
the  general  persecution;  and  it  is  said  he  thrust 
them  into  an  inner  prison,  and  made  them  fast  in 
stocks  and  irons.  He  then  lay  down  in  all  his  sins 
and  guilt  upon  his  pillow.  But  about  midnight  he 
was  roused  by  a  mighty  earthquake,  and  he  found 
the  prison  doors  all  open;  and,  supposing  that  the 
prisoners  were  fled,  he  was  about  to  cap  the  climax 
of  his  wretchedness  by  falling  upon  his  sword,  when 
he  heard  the  voice  of  the  apostle,  saying,  "Do 
thyself  no  harm;  we  are  all  here."  He  then  fell 
down,  trembling,  before  him,  and  said,  "What  must 
I  do  to  be"  saved?"  The  answer  was  short,  but 
weighty:  "Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
thoti  shalt  be  saved."  The  next  morning  the  sun 
rose  on  a  happy  Christian  family.  In  the  evening 
he  was  a  wicked  heathen,  cruel  as  the  grave;  at 
midnight  a  self-murderer  in  intention:  and  in  the 
morning  filled  with  righteousness,  and  peace,  and 
joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost.  Such  is  the  dispatch  of 
salvation. 

Again:  see  the  unhappy  criminal  who  suffered 
with  our  Lord!  Where  was  he  on  the  night  pre 
ceding  the  crucifixion?  Shut  up  in  a  filthy  dungeon, 
probably  drinking,  swearing,  reveling  with  compan 
ions  of  like  cast — the  next  morning  nailed  to  the 
cross.  Knowing  that  a  dangerous  murderer  had 
been  preferred  to  our  Lord,  he  hoped  to  raise  the 
sympathy  of  the  mob  by  reviling  the  Savior.  Vain 
hope!  Christ  was  unjustly  condemned;  but  he  was 


240  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CKUISEB;  OB, 

%  « 

receiving  the  proper  reward  of  his  crimes.  Amid 
the  awful  manifestations  of  Divine  power  that  at 
tended  the  passion  of  our  Lord,  the  unhappy  crim 
inal  saw  his  error,  was  overwhelmed  with  remorse, 
and  said  to  our  Savior,  "Lord,  remember  me,  when 
thoTi  comest  into  thy  kingdom."  The  Son  of  God, 
tortured  with  the  agonies  of  the  cross,  and  the 
mental  anguish  of  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  did 
not  forget  the  work  that  brought  him  down  from 
heaven;  but,  turning  his  dying  eyes  upon  his  guilty 
companion  in  woe,  said,  "  To-day  shalt  thou  be  with 
me  in  paradise."  Amazing  promptitude  of  God's 
grace!  In  the  evening  reveling  in  his  loathsome 
cell,  torn  by  the  lashes  of  a  guilty  conscience;  in 
the  morning  writhing  upon  the  cross,  and  perse 
cuting  the  Lord  of  life;  repenting,  believing,  justi 
fied,  washed,  and,  before  the  setting  of  the  sun  of 
that  eventful  day — glory  be  to  God! — by  such  an 
escort  as  prophet,  priest,  nor  king  ever  had,  he  is 
ushered  into  paradise,  as  a  striking  trophy  of  Christ's 
redeeming  grace  and  dying  love! 

The  conversions  which  took  place  on  the  day  of 
Pentecost  were  sudden  conversions.  So  were  those 
in  the  house  of  Cornelius.  When  Paul  was  preach 
ing  on  the  banks  of  a  river,  the  flame  of  Gospel 
grace  melted  down,  in  one  moment,  the  heart  of 
Lydia,  and  she  was  baptized,  with  all  her  house 
hold.  The  powerful  convictions  of  Saul  of  Tarsus 
lasted  three  days;  but  in  the  moment  he  believed 
the  scales  fell  from  his  eyes.  Then,  the  shortest  life 
of  man  is  sufficiently  long  to  waft  us  to  the  land  of 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  241 

rest,  the  saints'  delight,  the  heaven  prepared  for  all 
the  faithful. 

3.  Our  voyage  is  short;  therefore,  we  should  not 
overvalue  it. 

We  should  not  set  our  hearts  upon  it.  However 
pleasant  a  literal  voyage  may  be,  men  are  not  in  the 
habit  of  placing  such  a  high  estimate  upon  it  as  to 
mistake  the  means  for  the  end — the  voyage  for  the 
port  or  end  which  they  have  in  view.  They  do  not 
calculate  on  being  always  at  sea.  True,  they  will 
make  arrangements  to  render  their  voyage  as  agree 
able  as  possible.  They  will  prepare  bedding  and 
small  stores,  and  every  convenience  for  the  passage; 
but  they  will  live  in  reference  to  the  port  ahead. 
Their  conversation  will  be  mostly  about  the  end  of 
the  voyage.  They  will  frequently  ask  the  captain 
and  officers,  "What  headway  have  we  made  in  the 
last  twenty-four  hours?  What  do  you  suppose  are 
the  bearings  and  distance  of  the  destined  port?  Is 
this  present  breeze  favorable?"  They  will  love  to 
talk  for  hours  about  the  place  to  which  they  are 
bound,  and  will  speak  with  rapturous  allusions 
about  the  end  of  the  voyage.  So  Christians  should 
not  fall  in  love  with  their  voyage,  and  fix  their  af 
fections  on  earth.  They  should  not  rear  imperisha 
ble  palaces,  as  though  they  were  to  stay  here  forever. 
This  is  not  our  home — our  port — but  our  voyage. 
Our  principal  conversation  should  be  about  the  New 
Jerusalem  to  which  we  are  bound.  It  is  lawful 
to  make  ourselves  comfortable  on  our  passage,  and 
to  have  wherewithal  to  relieve  those  in  distress;  and 
16 


242  THE  SQUAKE-RIOGED   CRUISER;  OR, 

although  it  may  be  painful  in  the  end  to  part  with 
our  shipmates  and  fellow-passengers  who  have  not 
reached  their  destination,  yet,  by  the  grace  of  God,  we 
should  joyfully  step  on  shore  when  our  voyage  is  up. 

4.  Our  voyage  is  short;  consequently,  there  is  but 
little  time  to  do  our  work  in,  as  good  sailors  of  Jesus 
Christ. 

All  that  we  can,  by  the  help  of  God,  do  for  our 
selves,  for  the  Church,  and  for  our  fellow-men,  must 
be  done  in  this  short  life.  Here  the  work  of  faith, 
the  work  of  God,  must  be  done.  Here  we  must 
perfect  holiness  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord.  Here  we 
must  show  our  faith  by  our  works — by  giving  our 
labor,  our  talents,  our  money,  to  promote  the  glory 
of  God  and  the  salvation  of  man.  Here  we  may 
relieve  the  suffering  widow,  the  abandoned  orphan, 
the  houseless  wanderer,  the  poor,  shipwrecked  sailor. 
But  in  the  city  of  saints  there  are  no  weeping  wid 
ows,  no  starving  orphans,  no  houseless  wanderers, 
no  shipwrecked  seamen,  no  heathen  to  be  converted, 
no  Gospel  to  be  preached.  The  ministers,  having 
shouted  their  harvest  home,  will  ground  their  silver 
trumpets  at  Jesus'  feet,  and  enter  into  their  rest; 
and,  in  that  great,  decisive  day,  if  it  appears  that 
any  thing  has  been  left  undone  which  ought  to  have 
been  done,  it  will  then  be  too  late  to  rectify  our 
omissions.  Hence,  our  Lord  has  commanded  us  to 
work  while  we  have  the  light,  before  the  night 
cometh,  when  no  man  can  work.  Surely,  this  is 
the  best  policy — a  policy  observed  by  all  provident 
people.  See  that  poor,  industrious  widow,  working 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  243 

late  at  night  by  her  flickering  candle.  She  has  put 
her  little  children  to  bed;  but  they  will  not  sleep, 
and  are  calling  on  their  mother  to  follow  them  to 
rest;  but  she  looks  at  her  wasting  candle,  and  says, 
"Hush,  dears — hush!  This  piece  of  work  must  be 
finished,  or  to-morrow  you  will  cry  for  bread.  My 
candle  is  almost  gone,  and  I  must  work  while  I  have 
the  light."  Then  her  fingers  and  needle  will  move 
with  increasing  velocity.  Or  see  that  captain  who 
is  making  for  the  harbor.  The  entrance  is  danger 
ous,  and  there  is  no  pilot.  The  sun  is  hastening 
down.  He  orders  his  officer  to  call  all  hands. 
"  Bear  a  hand!  bear  a  hand!  The  day  is  almost 
gone.  We"  must  get  in  while  we  have  the  light,  or 
we  will  be  obliged  to  stand  off;  and  Heaven  only 
knows  what  storms  and  tempests  await  us,  or 
whether  AVC  may  ever  see  land  again.  Get  out  all 
your  light  sails,  and  clap  on  every  rag  of  canvas. 
We  must  work  while  it  is  day."  So  it  is  with  the 
Christian  pilgrim.  The  world  may  call  here,  the 
flesh  may  tempt  there,  and  the  devil  may  draw  on 
every  hand;  but  he  will  say, 

"Let  me  alone;  for  I  will  serve  God, 
And  serve  him  till  I  die." 

5.  As  this  life  is  short  and  transient,  but  the  life  to 
come  permanent  and  everlasting,  we  should  be  careful 
to  transfer  much  of  our  treasure  to  heaven. 

This,  we  know,  is  not  the  doctrine  of  the  irre 
ligious.  They  say,  "Life  is  short,  and  when  we  die 
we  can  not  carry  our  property  with  us;  so  the  best 
we  can  do  is  to  spend  it  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  this 


244  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

life,  as  we  go  along."  This  saying,  which  is  so 
common  in  many  mouths,  is  in  flat  contradiction  to 
the  truth  of  God.  We  can  remit  our  property  to 
heaven.  True,  we  can  not  remove  it  there  in  bulk, 
as  the  sailor  would  say;  but  we  can  lay  it  up  there 
in  enhanced  value.  If  a  farmer  in  England  wished 
to  remove  to  America,  we  know  that  he  could  not 
embark  his  houses  and  farm  on  shipboard,  and  bring 
them  over;  but  he  might  sell  them  for  their  full 
value,  and  get  bills  of  exchange  on  this  country; 
and,  although  he  might  land  with  nothing  but  his 
staff  in  his  hand,  yet,  as  soon  as  he  presents  his  bills, 
he  realizes  all  his  property,  and,  by  his  removal, 
might  better  his  condition  a  hundred-fold.  The 
Christian  can  not  carry  his  lands  and  houses  to 
heaven;  and  it  is  well  that  he  can  not.  The  most 
splendid  palace  on  earth  would  be  a  disgusting  blot 
on  the  high  and  fair  plains  of  glory;  but  he  who 
gives  to  the  poor  and  to  the  cause  of  righteousness 
lends  to  the  Lord.  A  minute  account  of  all  his 
pious  expenditures  is  kept  in  heaven,  even  to  cups 
of  cold  water;  and,  although  his  soul  may  land 
naked  in  eternity,  yet  he  will  hold  drafts  on  the  bank 
of  the  new  and  heavenly  Jerusalem;  and,  thank 
God!  they  will  not  be  protested,  but  paid  down  on 
the  capstan  with  interest — compound  interest.  If 
this  is  not  so,  why  does  our  Savior  say,  "Lay  up 
for  yourselves  treasure  in  heaven,  where  moth  and 
rust  can  not  corrupt,  and  where  thieves  can  not 
break  through  and  steal."  Why  does  he  say,  "  Pro 
vide  yourselves  bags  that  wax  not  old — a  treasure 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  245 

in  the  skies?"  and  again,  "Make  to  yourselves 
friends  of  the  mammon  of  unrighteousness,  that 
when  you  fail  on  earth  they  may  receive  you  into 
everlasting  habitations?" 

If  you  had  an  intention  of  embarking  soon,  for 
some  new  country,  where  you  expected  to  spend  the 
remnant  of  your  days,  would  you  not  be  anxious  to 
transfer  all  your  property  there  that  you  can  well 
spare?  Now,  the  Christian  knows  that  heaven  is 
his  eternal  home;  and,  if  so,  it  is  his  best  interest  to 
lay  up  treasure  there,  that  he  may  not  skulk  into  the 
dock,  as  a  poor,  destitute  pauper,  but  may  cast  his 
moorings  among  the  aristocracy  of  glory — an  aris 
tocracy  not  founded  on  family  or  noble  blood,  but 
on  holiness  of  heart,  and  faith  that  works  by  love. 

6.  Life  is  short.  This  should  reconcile  Chris 
tians  to  their  afflictions. 

When  men  encounter  many  disasters  and  ills  at 
sea,  if  it  is  a  short  voyage,  that  circumstance  affords 
considerable  alleviation.  They  will  say,  "  Cheer 
up,  my  hearties!  The  trip  is  short,  and  these  suf 
ferings  will  soon  be  over. 

'Though  fierce  is  the  blast, 
Yet  it  quickly  will  pass.' " 

It  was  this  idea  that  helped  to  comfort  Paul  in  all 
his  afflictions.  They  were  not  few.  He  was  in 
perils  on  the  land;  in  perils  on  the  sea;  twice  ship 
wrecked,  and  a  day  and  a  night  floating  about,  per 
haps  on  some  broken  pieces  of  timber;  whipped, 
stoned,  and  persecuted;  but  he  lashed  all  these  to 
gether  into  one  circumstance,  and  called  them  a 


246  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

"light  affliction;"  and  why?  because  they  were  "but 
for  a  moment,"  in  comparison  with  that  "far  more 
exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory,"  which  will 
be  revealed  at  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
The  Christian  suffers  in  this  brief  life  all  that  he 
ever  will  endure  through  the  countless  ages  of  time 
and  eternity.  The  hour  of  death  will  be  to  him  the 
birthday  of  an  endless  bliss;  and  well  may  he  sing 
here,  in  the  house  of  his  pilgrimage, 

"I  would  not  live  always;  I  ask  not  to  stay, 
Where  storm  after  storm  rises  dark  o'er  the  way. 
I  would  not  live  always,  away  from  my  God, 
Away  from  yon  heaven — yon  blissful  abode ; 
Where  the  rivers  of  pleasure  flow  o'er  th'  bright  plains, 
And  the  noontide  of  glory  eternally  reigns." 

0,  ye  suffering  shipmates,  bear  up!  bear  up,  awhile! 
breast  your  tarpaulins  to  the  blast! 

"The  storms  of  wint'ry  time  will  quickly  pass, 
And  one  unbounded  spring  encircle  all." 

7.  Life  is  short.  This  consideration  should  prop 
erly  affect  the  wicked.  They  must  know  that  if  they 
live  and  die  in  sin,  all  the  enjoyments  that  they  ever 
will  have,  must  be  crowded  into  this  short  passage. 
The  hour  of  death,  to  them,  will  be  the  commence 
ment  of  endless  woe,  affliction,  and  anguish.  We 
do  not  say,  that  they  have  no  pleasure  here.  If  it 
were  the  condition  of  our  salvation,  that  we  should 
drag  out  here  an  existence  of  perpetual  pain  and 
agony,  and  then  go  to  enjoy  an  eternity  of  bliss, 
this  would  be  infinitely  preferable  to  our  enjoying  all 
the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season,  and  then  going  to 
reap  eternal  woe.  But  the  Lord  exacts  no  such 


LOEKAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  247 

condition.  He  calls  us  to  be  happy  here,  and  happy 
to  all  eternity.  He  requires  us  to  sacrifice  nothing 
but  sin — nothing  but  that  which  hurts  us  here,  and 
which  will  ruin  us  hereafter.  "My  son,  give  me 
thy  heart." 

8.  Our  voyage  is  short;  therefore,  we  should  en 
deavor  to  make  it  happy  and  safe.  Christ  has  pre 
pared  an  ark,  for  the  saving,  of  our  souls — a  safe 
packet — the  Church  of  the  living  God,  the  pillar  and 
ground  of  the  truth.  If  life  were  longer,  it  would 
be  happy,  with  Christ  for  our  invisible  Captain,  and 
in  company  with  that  homeward-bound  crew,  who 
are  returning  to  Mount  Zion  with  songs  of  everlast 
ing  joy  and  deliverance  on  their  heads.  And  though 
our  years  roll  into  eternity,  like  the  swift-sailing 
ships,  yet  will  they  discharge  their  valuable  freight 
at  Jesus'  feet,  where  moth  and  rust  can  not  corrupt. 
But  it  is  asked  by  some,  "Why  should  we  unite  with 
the  Church?  why  may  we  not  scull  our  own  yawl? 
can  not  the  ministers  feel  as  deep  an  interest  in  us, 
and  can  not  the  Church  pray  as  earnestly  for  us,  as 
if  we  were  on  board?"  We  answer,  that  the  minis 
ters  of  Christ  do  feel  a  painful  interest  in  all  who 
are  struggling  for  the  shores  of  eternal  life;  and  the 
Church  prays  for  them.  But  we  know  not  where 
they  are,  or  who  they  are.  Hence  we  pray  uncer 
tainly — we  pray  conditionally — "Lord,  if  there  are 
any,"  etc.  But  that  cold  word  if,  clips  our  prayers 
of  more  than  half  their  faith  and  energy.  Were 
such  characters  to  come  and  throw  themselves  under 
the  watch-care  of  the  Church,  then  we  would  see 


248  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

them  and  know  them,  and  we  could  say,  "Lord, 
here  they  are!"  and  the  tears,  and  the  prayers,  and 
the  groans  of  the  whole  Church,  would  in  one  united 
ardor  rise  to  heaven,  and  the  Lord  would  send  an 
swers  of  peace  and  salvation  down.  There  would 
be  no  round  turns  nor  half-hitches — no  ifs  nor  ands. 
We  might  give  an  illustration. 

On  a  cold  winter's  night,  I  was  sitting  by  my  fire, 
hi  the  parsonage.  A  dreadful  gale  was  blowing, 
and  the  cold  was  unusually  severe.  I  began  to 
think  of  poor  sailors,  as  I  commonly  do  on  such  oc 
casions.  Supposing  that  many  might  be  homeward- 
bound,  at  that  season  of  the  year,  it  appeared  to  me 
not  at  all  unlikely  that  some,  at  that  very  moment, 
might  be  suffering  shipwreck  on  the  coast.  The  very 
thought  affected  my  heart,  and  immediately  the 
whole  scene  was  before  my  imagination:  the  thunder 
of  riven  timbers,  the  bursting  of  bolts,  the  shrieking 
of  women  and  children;  and  I  buried  my  face  in  my 
hands,  and  begjjn  to  pray  that  God  might  have  mer 
cy  on  any  who  were  about  to  make  their  last  plunge. 
I  shortly  after  learned,  through  the  papers,  that  on 
that  very  night  a  most  distressing  shipwreck  took 
place  on  our  coast.  About  two  hundred  emigrants 
and  seamen  perished,  within  a  few  cable-lengths  of 
the  shore.  Several  enterprising  sailors  put  out  in 
boats  to  their  rescue,  but  were  driven  back  by  the 
severity  of  the  weather,  cased  in  ice.  Now,  if  I  had 
been  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  coast,  who  crowded 
down  to  the  shore,  and  kindled  their  fires  on  the 
beach,  and  who  saw  the  awful  scene,  and  who  heard 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  249 

the  groans,  and  shrieks,  and  heart-rending  screams 
of  men,  women,  and  children,  till  their  last  feeble 
sighs  were  stifled  by  the  icy  pressure  of  death,  would 
I  not  have  had  a  more  piercing  sense  of  their  dread 
ful  condition?  And  would  I  not  have  been  excited 
to  more  fervent  and  intense  prayer?  As  it  was,  I 
was  praying  for  sufferers  who  might  have  existed 
only  in  my  own  fruitful  imagination.  In  the  latter 
case,  I  would  have  had  them,  with  their  sufferings, 
right  before  my  eyes,  and  could  have  urged,  "Lord, 
here  they  are;  look  down  in  mercy  on  the  feeble 
toil  of  mortals,  lost  to  hope;  and  send  deliverance 
down!" 

Preachers  and  people  do  pray,  indefinitely,  for  all 
who  are  in  distress — "for  all  who  are  traveling  by 
sea  and  by  land" — for  all  who  are  struggling  for 
eternal  life;  but  they  pray,  particularly,  and  under  - 
standingly,  and  personally,  for  all  who,  by  uniting 
with  the  Church,  say,  "Brethren,  pray  for  us." 
Come,  then,  fellow -sinners,  enter  at  once  on  board 
the  good  ship  ZION.  Well  might  the  poet  say, 

"She  is  built  of  Gospel  timber,  Alleluiah!" 

And  although  she  has  been  often  afflicted,  tossed 
with  tempest,  and  not  comforted,  yet,  blessed  be 
God!  she  has  never  sprung  a  leak,  or  lost  a  battle. 

"  She  has  landed  millions  on  the  shore, 

And  still  can  land  as  many  more."         % 

0,  it  is  better  to  be  a  green-horn,  a  land-lubber,  a 
cook's  scullion,  a  deck-swabber,  on  board  the  old 
ship  Zion,  than  to  be  high  admiral  of  all  the  navy 


250  THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER;  OR, 

of  hell.  Come  on  board,  come  on  board,  brother 
sailor,  come!  Come  right  up  to  the  quarter-deck  of 
salvation!  You  will  receive  your  bounty,  smack 
down  upon  the  capstan,  and  at  the  end  of  your  voy 
age  your  full  wages — life  everlasting,  and  a  glorious 
eternity  of  liberty  on  shore,  where  you  may 

"Range  the  blest  fields  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
And  sing  halleluiah  forever  and  ever." 

Come  on  board;  come!  She  is  manned  with  hearts 
of  oak — Gospel  true-blues — thorough-bred  Chris 
tians,  who  promised,  when  they  crossed  the  line, 
"never  to  eat  brown  bread  when  they  could  get 
white."  Come  along! 

"  See  on  our  social  decks,  the  joyful  sailors  stand, 
Crying,  0,  here  we  go,  to  Canaan's  happy  land!" 

True,  the  wicked  may  persecute  and  deride  us,  as 
we  pass;  but 

"We'll  sail,  while  they  rail! 
And  we'll  soon  be  out  of  sight." 

Press  on,  press  on,  ye  happy  souls,  in  your  heaven 
ward  cruise!  Our  poor,  adventurous  bark  shall 
follow  close  in  chase;  and  when  the  whirlwinds  of 
death  shall  kiss  your  swelling  sails,  and  you  shall 
leave  the  stormy  surface  of  life's  sea  behind,  and 
we  can  do  no  more,  we  will  round  our  trembling 
vessel  in  the  wind,  and  shiver  every  sail,  and  stop, 
and  stare,  and  gaze,  and  wish  to  follow  still  in  your 
wake. 

"  So  seemed  the  prophet,  when,  to  mount  on  high, 
His  Master  took  the  chariot  of  the  sky ; 
The  fiery  pomp,  ascending,  left  his  view, 
The  prophet  gazed,  and  wished  to  follow  too." 


LORRAIN'S  SEA-SERMONS.  251 

Our  days,  our  years  roll  on  like  the  swift  ships. 
And  as  the  breezes  of  Calvary  waft  us  onward  and 
upward,  we  may  sing,  with  the  pious  Richmond, 

"My  years  roll  on!  but  here's  my  hope, 
And  this  my  everlasting  prop : 
Though  seasons  change,  and  I  change  too, 
My  God  's  the  same — forever  true. 

My  years  roll  on,  and  as  they  roll, 
0,  may  they  waft  my  ransomed  soul, 
Safe  through  life's  ocean,  to  yon  shore, 
Where  sin  and  sorrow  grieve  no  more ! 

My  years  roll  on!  my  soul  he  still! 
Guided  by  love,  thy  course  fulfill ! 
And  my  life's  anxious  voyage  past, 
My  refuge  be  with  Christ  at  last." 

A  wide  ocean  here  opens  before  us,  and  we  might 
add  line  upon  line,  precept  upon  precept;  but  time 
is  short.  Another  hour,  another  day  has  passed 
away,  like  the  swift  sailing  ships.  While  the  wicked 
say,  "A  short  life,  and  a  merry  one,"  let  us  pray 
for  a  pious  voyage  and  a  safe  one. 


When  will  rebellious  seamen  cease 

To  fight  against  their  God, 
And  sue  for  pardon,  grace,  and  peace, 

Through  the  atoning  blood  ? 

Strike,  sailor,  strike !  no  longer  dare 

That  anger  to  unfold, 
Whose  softest  touch  would  sink  you  far 

In  hell's  unfathomed  hold. 

Ton  can  not  stay  your  tottering  mast; 

Your  tackling  soon  must  go; 
While  God,  with  one  untempered  blast, 

Will  lay  your  streamers  low. 


252       THE  SQUARE-RIGGED  CRUISER. 

You  can  not  bear  his  angry  frown; 

''Tis  death  to  fight  or  fly; 
Then  haul  your  rebel-colors  down, 

And  loud  for  quarters  cry. 

No  longer  sail  in  hell's  employ, 
Nor  'gainst  the  Gospel  rave : 

Your  God,  though  mighty  to  destroy, 
Is  POWEKFUL  to  save ; 

..^••. •••"•.  '  ^Ip*      ,      •  T  .    .»•  , 

And  when  he  hears  the  suppliant's  criea, 
Will  bid  the  warfare  cease — 

Will  send  salvation  from  the  skiea, 
And  give  the  mourner  peace. 


This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last 
date  stamped  balow. 


&ISC 
DtG 


10M-1 1-50(2555) 470  REMIN6TOM  RAND  -  JO 


3  1158  00415  1410 


BY 

4316 

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.    ...    HI  III!  II  II 

001  145688     6 


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